Graham Coughlan takes charge of his first home game for the Blues on Friday night, as we welcome Derry City to the RSC for our latest league meeting, and we have everything you need to know ahead of kick-off.
Waterford FC vs Derry City FC
SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division
Friday 15th May 2026
RSC, Waterford
7:45pm
WATERFORD FC
The Blues welcome the Candystripes to the RSC on Friday afternoon looking to pick up their first win of season, against an inconsistent Derry City who have struggled with form to date in 2026.
Graham Coughlan’s side fell to a 4-1 defeat away to St. Patrick’s Athletic last weekend, despite opening the scoring inside the open five minutes as John Mahon headed home from close range from Benny Couto’s corner.
After falling to defeat away to Derry City earlier in the year (4-2), the Blues will be keen to get a positive result against Tiernan Lynch’s side on Friday night.
DERRY CITY FC
Derry City travel to the south-east on Friday night looking to return to winning ways after falling to defeat last week against Drogheda United. Ryan Brennan’s second-half penalty proved the difference between the sides, as the Louth side inflicted Derry’s fifth defeat of the season on them.
The Candystripes picked up three points against the Blues at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium back in February with a 4-2 scoreline. Jorgen Voilas & Tommy Lonergan had given the Blues a 2-0 lead, before Michael Duffy took the spotlight with an impressive hat-trick to help Derry to maximum points.
Tiernan Lynch’s side sit in fifth position in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division table with 19 points picked up from their opening 16 games.
WATERFORD FC TEAM NEWS
Sam Glenfield misses Friday nights game through suspension after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season in Richmond Park last weekend. Evan McLaughlin (foot) is a doubt, whilst Finlay Armstrong continues his recovery from his quad injury sustained in pre-season.
GRAHAM COUGHLAN’S THOUGHTS
“The players have worked their socks off this week in fairness to them. It’s been a high-intensity week with everyone fighting for their shirt on Friday & fighting to rectify the situation that we’re in. The lads are trying their hardest, and we’re looking forward to getting a good couple weeks work into them and seeing more of our DNA & principles, and a way of digging ourselves out of this situation.
It’s roll your sleeves up time. We have to run harder, fight harder than the opposition, cover the distance, all that dirty side of the game. And then our quality players that we’ve got can produce those quality moments to help us win games, starting with tomorrow night against Derry.”
