Airtricity Premier Division: Derry City's European hopes hit by Waterford defeat

Derry City's hopes of securing European football suffered a blow as they lost 2-1 at home in the Premier Division to third-placed Waterford.

The defeat means Derry are now eight points behind Waterford who occupy the final automatic European spot.

Dessie Hutchinson put Waterford ahead early on and they missed other chances before Dean Shiels levelled on 31.

Gavan Holohan restored the visitors' lead in first-half injury-time with a deflected effort after poor defending.

Only a series of Gerard Doherty saves kept Derry in the game in the second half before Ally Roy hit the Waterford woodwork late on.

However, Waterford were good value in taking their third victory in four league contests against the Candystripes this season as the home team's lack of physique was again apparent.

With champions Cork City and Dundalk out of sight for the other teams at the top of the table, third-placed Waterford are now eight points ahead of Derry with only seven full series of fixtures remaining.

The game looked to be a must-win encounter for the Candystripes in terms of their European hopes but instead of having urgency early on, Derry started in lacklustre fashion as the visitors did all the early pressing.

Hutchinson hammered Waterford into a ninth-minute lead after playing a one-two with former Republic of Ireland striker Noel Hunt.

Hunt also set up Izzy Akinade for another great chance moments later and Akinade then had an opportunity to square to his unmarked team-mate only for Doherty to cut out the misdirected cross.

But against the run of play, Shiels levelled with a close-range finish after good work down the flank by the Hale brothers Ronan and Rory.

However, instead of building on their good fortune, Derry went back into their shell before the break as Hunt dispossessed Danny Seabourne before setting up Holohan, whose shot took a wicket deflection to give Doherty no chance.

Doherty denied Akinade straight after the resumption before the lively Roy fired wide at the other end after a tremendous run.

Akinade was then denied again by the Derry keeper before Hunt headed a glorious chance to kill off Derry's hopes in the 78th minute.

Waterford were almost made to pay for retreating in the closing stages as Roy stuck out a leg to divert a cross onto the woodwork.