WATERFORD will have loved the Long journey home after shocking Derry City at the Brandywell.
City won all four clashes with Keith Long’s Blues last season but the Munster men — whose RSC ground is 400km away — left with all three points.
Two first-half goals did the damage. Former Fleetwood midfielder Kyle White marked his first start with a clinical strike on nine minutes. And Polish defender Kacper Radkowski added a second when he rifled past Brian Maher at the near post from a tight angle five minutes before the break.
It could have been a lot worse for Derry in the second half as new signing Kevin Holt cleared Conan Noonan’s strike off the line before sub Pat Hoban pulled one back from the spot four minutes after coming off the bench.
Fellow sub Robbie Benson somehow failed to hit the target late on when Adam O’Reilly found him inside the six-yard box.
It was a first defeat in eight games for Derry against Waterford and a second loss in their opening three games under the stewardship of new boss Tiernan Lynch.
Lynch was serving his one-match ban for his red card in the 1-0 win against Bohemians. His brother and assistant boss Séamus was directing matters from the dugout.
Holt, Lynch’s final signing of nine in his significant first transfer window, arrived on deadline day from Dundee United and went straight into the starting line-up.
Ex-Portsmouth forward Gavin Whyte was handed his first start.
Derry, playing with an attacking 4-3-3 line-up — their third different formation in their opening three matches — began with the wind at their backs, playing towards the new North Stand.
Mark Connolly had their first chance but his header from a Shane Ferguson was easily saved.
The visitors silenced the ground on nine minutes with a well-worked move from a Navajo Bakboord’s throw-in.
The ball was worked to Noonan who found White in space. And he cut inside on his right before guiding a clinical shot into the far corner.
Whyte’s opening opportunity came on 15 minutes but he scuffed his first-time shot wide.
Forty seconds later Dom Thomas set him up again and this time he netted with a volley — but the assistant ref waved for a controversial offside. Holt looked for a peno on 18 minutes when he claimed to be held after a corner but the official was not impressed.
Derry’s first effort on target came after half an hour — but Ronan Boyce’s header was gathered.
Waterford doubled their lead five minutes before the break when Noonan’s free-kick into a crowded penalty area was flicked on by Liam Boyce. It fell to Radkowski in space at the back post and he managed to squeeze his shot low past Maher.
Derry had it all to do after that. Thomas was making things happen and Whyte kept scheming but Waterford almost went three up — with Holt keeping Noonan out.
City went to their bench with four substitutions as Benson, Hoban, Ben Doherty and Sam Todd all entered the fray.
Duffy crossed into the box and Doherty was hauled to the ground by Bakboord. And Hoban sent keeper Stephen Mc Mullan the wrong way from the penalty to score his first of the season.
As Derry pressed for a leveller, Duffy could not direct his header goalwards with nine minutes to go. Benson then had the goal at his mercy but somehow missed the target. It was a gilt-edged chance to equalise.
There were five minutes of additional time but Derry huffed and puffed and could not find a way past a stubborn Waterford defence as they fell to a second loss of the season.
Up next, Derry visit St Pat’s on Monday — while Waterford host Cork City in the Munster derby.
SUN STAR MAN
Conan Noonan (Blues)
DERRY CITY: Maher 7; Harkin 6 (Todd 60, 6), Connolly 6, Holt 7, Ferguson 7 (Doherty 60, 7); Winchester 7, O’Reilly 7, Whyte 6 (Benson 60, 7), Thomas 7 (Hoban 60, 7), Boyce 5 (Patton 73, 6), Duffy 7.
WATERFORD: McMullan 7; Bakboord 7, Radkowski 8, Boyle 7, Leahy 8, White 8 (Glenfield 74, 6); McMenamy 7, McDonald 7, Noonan 7; Amond 8, Lonergan 7.
REFEREE: A O’Dowd (Dublin) 6.
