Derry hit the summit after narrow win in Waterford

Derry City moved to the summit of the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division table with a helping hand from Waterford FC loanee goalkeeper Louis Jones as they were made to work for a fourth victory of the season over the Blues at the RSC.

The home netminder was guilty of a clanger on the hour mark when carrying a Ben Doherty header over the line, spotted by eagle-eyed assistant referee Rob Clarke. It didn’t matter to Ruaidhri Higgins or his players at the call of time as they overtook Shelbourne at the top on goal difference.

A cagey opening half-hour saw Derry City probe for the opener, but they couldn’t get past a resolute Waterford defence led superbly by defender Kacper Radkowski as he produced some towering headers to keep the visitors at bay.

He blocked a Michael Duffy effort inside eight minutes before cutting out a dangerous attack involving the same player on the half-hour with Will Patching’s delivery cleared away by Darragh Power, while the hosts had a right-wing cross from the latter brilliantly blocked by Mark Connolly.

It was the visitors that got that golden chance to strike the front on 35 minutes. Brian Maher’s long kick-out was flicked on by Pat Hoban for Adam O’Reilly, who sprayed the ball out to the right for Paul McMullan, but his first-time right-footed shot at an angle came crashing back off Jones’ near post.

After Cameron Dummigan had a shot from distance fizz wide of the target on 43 minutes, the Blues had their best chance of the half two minutes later only to denied by a stunning Maher save.

Ryan Burke won a free out on the left that saw Barry Baggley’s delivery fall to Radkowski, who saw his overhead kick break to Darragh Leahy. His low shot was brilliantly kept out with Padraig Amond’s close-range