Happy 2026 Club Orange Men’s FAI Cup final day to all who celebrate!

All eyes on Aviva Stadium as Derry City and Waterford face off in the showpiece of the domestic football calendar.

It’s a novel decider, the sides meeting at this stage for the very first time. Derry are in their third FAI Cup final in five seasons, having defeated Shelbourne in 2022 and lost to newly-relegated Drogheda United in 2024. Waterford, meanwhile, are looking to end a 46-year wait for the silverware, having last won in 1980 with their most recent final appearance in 2004.

Kick-off is at 3pm, with the action live on RTÉ 2. We’ll keep you up to date on The 42 – Emma Duffy here on liveblog duty, while David Sneyd is in situ at Aviva Stadium.

Team News

Eyes on the prize: the FAI Cup. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Here’s how both teams are named to start. Team sheets attached below, courtesy of David Sneyd at Lansdowne Road.

Derry City: Brian Maher; Cameron Dummigan, Jamie Stott, Patrick McClean, Brandon Fleming; Nick Twisk, Adam O’Reilly; Darragh Burns, Eilis Chapman, Michael Duffy; James Clarke.

Waterford: Stephen McMullan; Hayden Cann, John Mahon, Kevin Long; Conan Noonan, Noah Mawene, Evan McLaughlin, Bernardo Pelxoto Couto; Jorgen Voilas; Pádraig Amond, Tommy Lonergan.

David Sneyd / The 42. David Sneyd / The 42. / The 42.

Suited and booted…

Derry City's Michael Duffy. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Derry City's Patrick McClean. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Waterford's Pádraig Amond. Dan Clohessy Dan Clohessy

Waterford's Tommy Lonergan. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

This FAI Cup final should deliver bedlam and goals with sides buoyed by confidence, writes David Sneyd in his match preview.

When these sides have met this year goals have been guaranteed. Not just that, the games have kept everyone guessing with the aggregate score of 10-10 in the four league fixtures.

Derry got the better of Waterford early on in the Ryan McBride Brandywell, Michael Duffy’s second hat-trick of his League of Ireland career helping the hosts to a 4-2 win.

The Candystripes snatched a 2-2 draw in May with a 95th minute equaliser in the Brandywell while Waterford’s 4-2 victory away from home looked like it would be a routine one.

They raced into a 3-0 lead only for Derry to score twice before the 85th minute until the Blues made sure of it.

The points were shared again in September with a 2-2 draw courtesy of Padraig Amond’s header from a corner to equalise.

• You can read the full match preview here

On the topic of pre-match reading, David Sneyd’s exclusive interview with Michael Duffy is unmissable. The Derry City captain welcomes The 42 into his home for an in-depth and wide-ranging chat. A must read.

Derry’s love: At home with Michael Duffy and family with FAI Cup glory in sight

“Cappuccino, please.” Grateful to Derry City’s Michael Duffy for welcoming me into his home ahead of Sunday’s FAI Cup final with Waterford. His story on @The42_ie tomorrow. https://t.co/RUXMZMGzGw

— David Sneyd (@DavidSneyd) November 6, 2026

There’s plenty of good Waterford coverage available too, if you find the time before kick-off.

Waterford’s Miracle Man: Graham Coughlan’s life in football sums up game’s extremes

‘The main thing is you just enjoy yourself and you play football with love’

Dispatch from the Aviva

This is the first FAI Cup final since 2009 in which neither club finished in the top four of that season’s League of Ireland Premier Division.

Derry City finished fifth, five points ahead of Waterford in seventh.

The 09 showpiece was won by First Division Sporting Fingal. The now-defunct club beat Sligo Rovers 2-1 in front of 8,105 at Tallaght Stadium.

More than 37,000 tickets have been sold for the Aviva Stadium today.

- David Sneyd

A Derry City fan ahead of the game. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Waterford supporter Michal Moch from Poland outside the Aviva. Tom Maher / INPHO Tom Maher / INPHO / INPHO

10 minute countdown. Time to call it…

Who will win the 2026 FAI Cup final?

Late change to the Waterford squad: Substitute Jordan Houston pulled up in the warm-up, so Noah O’Brien – wearing number 50 – comes in.

David Sneyd’s view: This is a blow for Waterford as Houston would also have started on the right side of defence. Will Derry’s Michael Duffy be able to take advantage down their left wing?

The teams are out on the pitch, with formalities underway in a haze of smoke after flares were let off by fans and tifos unfurled.

A huge roar at the end of Amhrán na bhFiann, massive sense of occasion with an attendance of over 35,000 expected. Final preparations complete as the atmosphere ramps up. Go time.

KICK-OFF! Waterford open proceedings at a raucous Aviva Stadium.

The game gets underway after a minute’s silence for the English family after their tragic deaths in Waterford recently. 

Derry City 0-0 Waterford 

2 mins – Uneventful opening exchanges as both sides feel their way into the game as the smoke begins to lift.

Derry City 0-0 Waterford 

4 mins - Michael Duffy with the early spark down Derry’s left, looking to link up with Eilis Chapman. Good early tempo and bite – Keith Long among those flying into challenges.

Derry City 0-0 Waterford 

8 mins – Uneventful was premature… it’s been pretty frantic since.

Waterford are looking to use their dynamic duo up top, with a long ball sent towards Amond but Derry goalkeeper Maher alert to clear any danger. The 38-year-old piles on the pressure thereafter to force the game’s first corner.

Derry City 0-0 Waterford 

10 mins – Nothing comes off Couto’s corner despite a scramble at the back post, the ball trickling over the end line. Challenges continue to fly in, decent start but no clear-cut chances just yet.

Derry City 0-0 Waterford 

13 mins – Duffy with a free shot, but McMillan does well to get down and save on his near post. Waterford look to respond immediately, Lonergan with a threatening cross at the other end…

Derry City 0-0 Waterford 

15 mins – CLOSE! Couto’s whipped free kick – from wide right – kisses the underside of Maher’s crossbar, and Derry breathe a sigh of relief. It seems Maher helped it along, lucky break.

Derry City 0-0 Waterford 

18 mins – Derry City can’t make hay with their first corner of the day, while appeals for a Duffy handball shortly afterwards fall on deaf ears. Longergan lets out a roar after a challenge from Burns, but Waterford can’t capitalise on Couto’s latest free-kick.

Derry City 0-0 Waterford 

22 mins – Couto is then last-ditch defending, Derry fans protesting his touch to McMillian as a back pass but play is waved on. Came after a threatening Duffy cross amidst another lively counter-attack.

Here’s the Couto free-kick which left Maher breathing a sigh of relief:

15Mins: DER 0-0 WAT A whipped-in free from Benny Couto finds the crossbar after Brian Maher gets a hand to the ball. Edgy moments for the Derry defence with 15 minutes gone. 📺@rte2 @rteplayer 📱Live blog https://t.co/Jp0XIAlC8Q @rtenews app 📻 @rteradio1 https://t.co/agKz4EnjLw

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 8, 2026

Derry City 0-0 Waterford 

25 mins – Chapman lifts harmlessly over with better options around him, Noonan denied by a Maher save at the other end. Hands to his head immediately, he knows he probably should have done better.

Derry City 0-0 Waterford 

27 mins - Couto’s latest free-kick delivery is headed clear by rock-solid McClean. Came after a Twisk challenge on the lively Lonergan

Derry City 0-0 Waterford 

28 mins – Duffy has the ball in the back of the net but the whistle had sounded with the offside flag up. A marginal call, after more good work from Fleming, Chapman and Duffy down the left.

Waterford's Tommy Lonergan competes for the ball in the air with Derry City's Nick Twisk and Patrick McClean. Tom Maher / INPHO Tom Maher / INPHO / INPHO

Derry City 0-0 Waterford 

33 mins – Another decent chance for Lonergan, whose header fails to hit the target. Couto’s long throw is flicked on by Mahon in the box, and the onrushing Lonergan meets it bouncing off the turf but heads high and wide.

28mins: DER 0-0 WAT The ball is in the Waterford net courtesy of Michael Duffy, but the flag had already gone up. Derry fans' celebrations are cut short by a marginal offside call. 📺@rte2 @rteplayer 📱Live blog https://t.co/Jp0XIAlC8Q @rtenews app 📻 @rteradio1 https://t.co/JHgxYXB6HI

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 8, 2026

Derry City 0-0 Waterford 

38 mins - Another Couto long throw causes some chaos, but a free out is awarded. Some  protestation from Waterford players, looked like a push from McClean as he got up for the ball.

The Derry captan has been excellent, but he’s caught out of possession up the field. Adam O’Reilly steps up to cover him.

Derry City 0-0 Waterford 

40 mins - Lonergan with another really enticing cross from the left, but Derry deal accordingly through Fleming. Maher has to be alert again in the next phase, Waterford have probably been slightly better but there’s not a whole pile in it.

Derry City 0-0 Waterford 

42 mins – Duffy cuts in from the left and drives inside, but his shot is always rising and clears the crossbar. Trademark Duffy, and definitely not the last time we’ll see that today…

Derry City 0-0 Waterford 

43 mins – Waterford looking to up the ante before the break. McLaughlin breaks with a surging run and slips Amond through, but his cross from the left doesn’t find Voilas and the pace comes out of it. Amond pinged for offside in the next attack as he and Lonergan look to link up. Will they get another chance before the whistle?

HT: Derry City 0-0 Waterford 

Tom Maher / INPHO Tom Maher / INPHO / INPHO

The half-time whistle sounds once the clock hits 45. Much of the talk before this FAI Cup final was of goals, but the deadlock is yet to be broken. There have been chances at either end, but no breakthrough just yet.

Frantic start, but the game has dimmed somewhat as it’s worn on. Waterford have probably shaded it. Big second half to come!

SECOND-HALF! Derry City get us going again.

Derry City 0-0 Waterford 

46 mins – Waterford quickest out of the blocks. McLaughlin with the first shot of the second half from outside the box, which is blocked by McClean.

Derry City 0-0 Waterford 

48 mins - Noonan forces a save from Maher after good work down the left – the ball is brilliantly flicked on by Lonergan and Noonan nutmegs Dummigan, but his cross is punched out for a corner by Maher. You’d imagine he was trying to find the lurking Amond, rather than shoot from a tight angle.

Derry City 0-0 Waterford 

50 mins - Waterford’s Long sees the first yellow card of the game for trying to stop a Derry break. The Blues’ dominance since the restart continues.

Derry City 0-0 Waterford 

54 mins – Derry coming into it more and stringing some attacks together. Chapman with the latest decent shot which is blocked by Cann and cleared by Mahon. 

Waterford counter and win a corner shortly after, end to end stuff as it opens up. Which side can break the deadlock?

Derry City 0-0 Waterford 

58 mins – The corner is headed wide at the back post – was it Mahon? – after a scramble in the box which sees Lonergan hit the deck. Derry look to hit back. It’s stop start and scrappy as tensions rise.

Derry City 0-0 Waterford 

60 mins – Poor from Derry, a number of their players in an offside position for a Duffy free kick from range and the opportunity goes a-begging.

Derry City 0-0 Waterford 

63 mins – Chaotic passage of play with Derry on the front foot and tackles flying in but no frees given. Duffy forces a corner amidst the madness, which the Candystripes work short before Dummigan arcs in a delivery from deep but it’s comfortably collected by McMullan.

Derry City 0-0 Waterford

65 mins - Maher is equal at the other end as he claims a Couto header after Lonergan knocks back a brilliant diagonal. Waterford enjoying a bit of a purple patch here, can they capitalise?

Derry City 0-0 Waterford

67 mins – Another Couto long throw causes concern for Derry, but they eventually clear their lines and counter. Clarke’s tame shot is comfortably claimed by McMullan.

GOAL! Derry City 1-0 Waterford (Darragh Burns, 69 mins)

Deadlock broken, and a moment of real individual quality. Darragh Burns’ first Derry City goal is one he will never forget. He bides his time, cutting into the box and back out, before unleashing a devastating strike to make it 1-0.

It looked like Burns was about to be substituted off, with Kevin dos Santos warming up, but that’s all on ice now. Flares galore. 1-0 Derry.

Derry City 1-0 Waterford 

72 mins - Derry on the hunt for more in a thick haze of smoke. Slight delay before a Duffy corner as a flare is removed. ‘We’re gonna win the cup,’ Candystripes’ fans chant.

Waterford sub - McMenamy for Voilas.

Derry 1-0 Waterford

77 mins - It’s been all Derry since the goal, Fleming whipping a cross into the box for Chapman but they can’t connect.

Derry sub - Kevin dos Santos for Darragh Burns, the goalscorer going off to a huge reception. 

Here’s the goal:

70 mins: DER 1-0 WAT Darragh Burns breaks the deadlock with a devastating finish from outside the box just before he was about to be subbed off for Kevin Dos Santos. 📺@rte2 @rteplayer 📱Live blog https://t.co/Jp0XIAlC8Q @rtenews app 📻 @rteradio1 https://t.co/gdfcexyZVW

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 8, 2026

Derry 1-0 Waterford

79 mins - Mawene drags a shot harmlessly wide as Waterford try to muster a response – and in the next phase, he’s chopped down by Chapman who sees yellow.

Attendance confirmed as 36,093.

Derry 1-0 Waterford

82 mins - Dos Santos bends his first effort across the face of goal and wide, as Derry counter with Waterford bodies committed forward.

Derry 1-0 Waterford

84 mins - Lonergan’s looping header drops just wide and his primal scream in frustration says it all. Good work from Noonan down the right, but his cross beats everyone. Couto sends it back across, but Lonergan’s effort is off target. 

Derry sub - Liam Boyce for James Clarke.

Derry 1-0 Waterford

86 mins – Dos Santos agains shows his threat and trickery, but a Derry attack breaks down and Waterford look to counter. Dummigan sees yellow for a cynical stop on Amond around on the sideline around halfway, but nothing comes off the subsequent free.

Derry 1-0 Waterford

88 mins – Lonergan turns on the afterburners down the left, but his cross is beyond Amond and cleared. The Waterford chance stays alive, but Boyce steps up with a brilliant interception on the edge of the box. Huge.

Waterford sub - Luke Heeney for McLaughlin.

Derry City 1-0 Waterford 

90 mins - Waterford stringing some set pieces together as three minutes are added on.

Derry City 1-0 Waterford 

91 mins – Waterford penalty appeals as the clock runs down. Mawene hit the deck in the area, another player goes down, the Blues’ support is furious. Then Duffy breaks and Mawene fouls and is booked.

Derry City 1-0 Waterford 

93 mins – Patrick McClean named Man of the Match. McMullan pumps a long-range free into the box, last chance saloon…

FT: Derry City 1-0 Waterford

Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Joyous Derry City scenes as the final whistle sounds and they are confirmed as 2026 FAI Cup champions. 

Darragh Burns’ superb 69th minute strike was ultimately the difference as the Candystripes win the FAI Cup for the seventh time – and first since 2022.

Waterford’s 46-year wait for the silverware goes on. Patrick McClean is giving a brilliant Man of the Match winning interview to RTÉ as they prepare to lift the trophy. 

What a mad season on Foyleside.

FT: DER 1-0 WAT The last roll of the dice for the Blues, but Derry City claim their seventh FAI Cup with a 1-0 win at Aviva Stadium. 📺@rte2 @rteplayer 📱Live blog https://t.co/Jp0XIAlC8Q @rtenews app 📻 @rteradio1 #faicupfinal #derrycity #rtesoccer https://t.co/3DQHMQ1d7h

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 8, 2026

“It’s just amazing, it’s just special. I’m lost for words, to be honest” – an emotional Michael Duffy now speaking to RTÉ with his kids hanging off him. Beautiful stuff.

“The best feeling I’ve had in football,” he smiles. “Unbelievable day for the club.”

We’ll leave our live coverage there as Derry head over to lift the cup, but David Sneyd’s report will be on The 42 in the next few minutes. Much more coverage will follow.

Thanks for reading – enjoy the rest of your Sunday evening!