Rampant Derry put seven past Waterford
LIAM Boyce netted a hat-trick as a rampant Derry City thumped seven past a stunned Waterford United at Brandywell.
The 34-year-old former Hearts man took his season tally to eight goals with his contribution on a night Derry closed the gap on leaders Shamrock Rovers to eight points with a game in hand.
Boyce became the first Derry player to score a hat-trick since Pat Hoban's treble against Waterford in March 2024.
The Belfast man netted twice in the opening 24 minutes but his brace was overshadowed by Sadou Diallo's goal of the season contender which crashed off the underside of the crossbar before nestling into the net.
Skipper Mark Connolly headed in a fourth just before half-time and while Padraig Amond scored twice in the second half, a third goal from Boyce, and a goal apiece from the sensational Michael Duffy and equally impressive Gavin Whyte sealed Derry's biggest win of the season.
Derry hit the front after five minutes following a sweeping move finished by Liam Boyce who rifled his shot into the middle of the goal.
Another swift attack from Derry opened up the Waterford defence as White and Ronan Boyce linked up on the right and the latter crossed towards the front post where Liam Boyce's strike was turned behind by a timely tackle from Andy Boyle.
The Candystripes doubled their advantage on 25 minutes when Duffy raced down the left wing and found Liam Boyce lurking on the penalty spot. The striker fired into the net despite the best efforts of Wade.
Derry were threatening to run riot and added a third with a thunderbolt from Diallo. The midfielder's strike from 30 yards crashed off the underside of the crossbar and nestled into the net.
Wade again saved from Duffy's long range effort before skipper Connolly's glancing header which beat Wade at the back post - the Monaghan man's first goal since victory over Waterford in June last season.
The small band of travelling support at last had something to cheer about five minutes into the second half when Amond dribbled into the penalty area and slotted clinically past Maher for his ninth goal of the season.
Whyte's inch perfect crossfield pass found the run of Duffy who turned Darragh Leahy before firing past Wade with his left foot.
Derry's sixth came on 57 minutes as he picked out the run of Liam Boyce who poked the ball home at the front post for his hat-trick.
Whyte's sensational performance was just lacking a goal and it arrived on 73 minutes when Duffy found him lurking on the edge of the box and he fired the ball into the bottom corner.
Amond netted his second and a consolation strike for Waterford who capitalised from a quick throw-in with 10 minutes to go.
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The Irish Sun
6 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Lethal Liam Boyce hits hat-trick as Derry City put seven past Waterford in rout
LIAM Boyce netted a hat-trick as a rampant Derry City thumped seven past a stunned Waterford United at Brandywell. The 34 year-old former Hearts man took his season tally to eight goals with his contribution on a night Derry closed the gap on leaders Shamrock Rovers to eight points with a game in hand. 2 Liam Boyce netted a hattrick for Derry City in the rout against Waterford 2 Derry put SEVEN past hapless Waterford in Friday night's LOI clash Boyce became the first Derry player to score a hat-trick since Pat Hoban's treble against Waterford in March 2024. The Belfast man netted twice in the opening 24 minutes but his brace was overshadowed by Sadou Diallo's goal of the season contender which crashed off the underside of the crossbar before nestling into the net. Skipper Mark Connolly headed in a fourth just before half-time and while Padraig Amond scored twice in the second half, a third goal from Boyce, and a goal apiece from the sensational Michael Duffy and equally impressive Gavin Whyte sealed Derry's biggest win of the season. That's 10 goals in their last two matches for the Candystripes who haven't yet given up hope of challenging for the title. READ MORE ON FOOTBALL Derry hit the front after five minutes following a sweeping move started by Connolly who spread a pass to Ronan Boyce wide on the right. The full-back pulled it back to Gavin White who slotted into the feet of Liam Boyce and the Belfast man rifled his shot into the middle of the goal. Moments later from Duffy's outswinging corner was met by the head of Connolly who rose highest but his powerful effort cannoned off the top of the crossbar and behind for a goal kick. For all of Derry's dominance, Waterford fired a warning shot when top scorer Amond found himself in behind the last line of defence but his low strike was saved comfortably by Maher on 13 minutes. Most read in Football Another swift attack from Derry opened up the Waterford defence as White and Ronan Boyce linked up on the right and the latter crossed towards the front post where Liam Boyce's strike was turned behind by a timely tackle from Andy Boyle. The Candystripes doubled their advantage on 25 minutes when Duffy raced down the left wing and found Liam Boyce lurking on the penalty spot. The striker fired into the net despite the best efforts of Wade. Derry were threatening to run riot and added a third with a thunderbolt from Diallo. The midfielder's strike from 30 yards crashed off the underside of the crossbar and nestled into the net - a certain goal of the month contender! It was Diallo's first league goal since 2022 and his sixth for the club. There was no let-up from the home side as Duffy raced through on goal and with White at the back post opted to shoot but it was saved by the outstretched hand of Wade. Wade again saved from Duffy's long range effort before skipper Connolly's glancing header which beat Wade at the back post - the Monaghan man's first goal since victory over Waterford in June last season. The small band of travelling support at last had something to cheer about five minutes into the second half when Amond dribbled into the penalty area and slotted clinically past Maher for his ninth goal of the season. That put paid to Derry's run of three successive clean sheets but the Brandywell outfit struck back immediately in stunning fashion. White's inch perfect crossfield pass found the run of Duffy who turned Darragh Leahy before firing past Wade with his left foot. Former Portsmouth winger White was instrumental in Derry's sixth on 57 minutes as he picked out the run of Liam Boyce who poked the ball home at the front post for his hat-trick. White's sensational performance was just lacking a goal and it arrived on 73 minutes when Duffy found him lurking on the edge of the box and he fired the ball into the bottom corner. Amond netted his second and a consolation strike for Waterford who capitalised from a quick throw-in with 10 minutes to go. It mattered little as Derry clinched a memorable win and three vital points. It was the first time the Foylesiders scored seven in a league match since April 2022 when they thrashed UCD. Derry City 7 (L. Boyce 5, 24, 57, Diallo 36, Connolly 41, Duffy 52, White 73) Waterford 2 (Amond 50, 79) Derry City: Maher 6; Cann 7, Connolly 8, Holt 7; Boyce 8, Winchester 7 (Frizzell 6, 74), Diallo 8, Whyte 9 (O'Reilly 6, 74), Duffy 9 (Benson 6, 76), Todd 8; L Boyce 9 (Mullen 6, 64). Waterford: Wade 4; McDonald 5 (McMenamy 6, 77), Boyle 5, Leahy 5; Horton 5, Glenfield 5 (Mansfield 6, 64), Noonan 6, Olayinka 5 (White 6, 63), Burke 6 (Dempsey 6, 63); Amond 8, Lonergan 6 (Coyle 6, 64). Referee: Ben McMaster (Belfast).SUN STAR MAN: Michael Duffy (Derry City)
RTÉ News
7 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Seventh heaven for Derry as Waterford are swatted aside
Derry City produced a magnificent seven-goal display to swat aside a shell-shocked Waterford side at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium. While Liam Boyce will rightfully grab all the headlines with a hat-trick, it was Michael Duffy who stole the show. The 30-year-old scored one and set-up four of Derry's goals, as he rolled back the years with a fantastic all round performance. Derry, who lost twice to Waterford this season, started like a team wanting to put things right. The Brandywell men produced a sensational first half performance and in truth should probably have been further ahead at the break, but they put the record straight after the break and continued to pile on the goals. City started on the front foot and took the lead on five minutes following a flowing move which saw Mark Connolly found Ronan Boyce, he in turn found Gavin Whyte, who fed Boyce and the striker made no mistake blasting high past Bradley Wade. The woodwork came to Waterford's rescue minutes later as Duffy's outswinging corner from the right found Connolly, but the centre-back's header, which had Wade beaten, clipped the top of the bar. Soon after Waterford missed a super chance to equalise but Padraig Amond's tame effort from 20 yards was easily saved by Brian Maher. Derry doubled their lead on 24 minutes when another flowing move ended with Boyce releasing Duffy down the left, he in turn cut the ball back for the ex-Cliftonville man to fire home his second on the night, despite Wade's best attempts at trying to keep it out. The home side netted their third goal in stunning fashion as Sadou Diallo's 25-yard thunderbolt flew past Wade off the underside of the crossbar. Wade had to make a top save minutes later when he spread himself well to deny Duffy and Boyce was inches away from completing his hat-trick as his close range header was kept out by the Waterford net-minder. Derry incredibly scored their fourth on 41 minutes as Duffy's left wing corner found Connolly and his glancing header nestled in the bottom right hand corner. A defensive mistake by the home side on 49 minutes resulted in Amond getting in behind the back-line and the ex-Ireland striker made no mistake slotting the ball home past Maher. Normal service was resumed on 52 minutes as Whyte's delightful cross field pass released Duffy, who calmly cut in on his left foot, before blasting home past Wade. Boyce completed his hat-trick just before the hour mark as Whyte's fantastic right-wing centre found the City marksman and he slid the ball home at the near post. Whyte got himself amongst the goals on 74 minutes when he coolly slotted the ball low into Wade's bottom left hand corner, after that man Duffy picked him out on the edge of the box. The Blues scored another consolation goal five minutes later as Amond finished well when getting in behind the Derry defence. In the closing stages Derry should have grabbed an eighth goal but substitute Danny Mullen was denied as Wade kept his close range shot out. Derry City: Brian Maher, Hayden Cann, Mark Connolly, Kevin Holt (Shane Ferguson 75); Ronan Boyce, Carl Winchester (Adam O'Reilly 75), Sadou Diallo, Gavin Whyte, Michael Duffy (Robbie Benson 76), Sam Todd; Liam Boyce (Daniel Mullen 64).
Irish Examiner
7 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Rampant Derry put seven past Waterford
SSE Airtricity Premier Division: Derry City 7 (Boyce 5', 24', 57' Diallo 36', Connolly 41', Duffy 52', Whyte 73') Waterford 2 (Amond 49', 79') LIAM Boyce netted a hat-trick as a rampant Derry City thumped seven past a stunned Waterford United at Brandywell. The 34-year-old former Hearts man took his season tally to eight goals with his contribution on a night Derry closed the gap on leaders Shamrock Rovers to eight points with a game in hand. Boyce became the first Derry player to score a hat-trick since Pat Hoban's treble against Waterford in March 2024. The Belfast man netted twice in the opening 24 minutes but his brace was overshadowed by Sadou Diallo's goal of the season contender which crashed off the underside of the crossbar before nestling into the net. Skipper Mark Connolly headed in a fourth just before half-time and while Padraig Amond scored twice in the second half, a third goal from Boyce, and a goal apiece from the sensational Michael Duffy and equally impressive Gavin Whyte sealed Derry's biggest win of the season. Derry hit the front after five minutes following a sweeping move finished by Liam Boyce who rifled his shot into the middle of the goal. Another swift attack from Derry opened up the Waterford defence as White and Ronan Boyce linked up on the right and the latter crossed towards the front post where Liam Boyce's strike was turned behind by a timely tackle from Andy Boyle. The Candystripes doubled their advantage on 25 minutes when Duffy raced down the left wing and found Liam Boyce lurking on the penalty spot. The striker fired into the net despite the best efforts of Wade. Derry were threatening to run riot and added a third with a thunderbolt from Diallo. The midfielder's strike from 30 yards crashed off the underside of the crossbar and nestled into the net. Wade again saved from Duffy's long range effort before skipper Connolly's glancing header which beat Wade at the back post - the Monaghan man's first goal since victory over Waterford in June last season. The small band of travelling support at last had something to cheer about five minutes into the second half when Amond dribbled into the penalty area and slotted clinically past Maher for his ninth goal of the season. Whyte's inch perfect crossfield pass found the run of Duffy who turned Darragh Leahy before firing past Wade with his left foot. Derry's sixth came on 57 minutes as he picked out the run of Liam Boyce who poked the ball home at the front post for his hat-trick. Whyte's sensational performance was just lacking a goal and it arrived on 73 minutes when Duffy found him lurking on the edge of the box and he fired the ball into the bottom corner. Amond netted his second and a consolation strike for Waterford who capitalised from a quick throw-in with 10 minutes to go.
