O’Halloran strikes late for Blues

DEAN O’HALLORAN became a local Waterford hero last night by crowning their return to the Premier Division after 10 years with a late winner.

On a horrible, wet evening in south-east, Gavan Holohan cancelled out Armin Aganovic’s 19th-minute opener with a ferocious equaliser before O’Halloran completed the comeback 13 minutes from time.

Aaron McEneff’s free-kicks played a big part in Derry finishing fourth last season and another of his deliveries from the left caught Waterford out to allow Aganovic nod in a free header at the back post.

The concession sparked a turgid Waterford into life and after blazing over from a good position, Holohan was more clinical two minutes before the interval with a superb equaliser.

When Rory Feely and Bastien Héry combined to find Holohan on the right, he still had work to do but he fired his shot beneath Ger Doherty and into the net.

Waterford were the only attacking force in the second half and their endeavours were rewarded with a stellar team goal.

Stanley Aborah sprung Derry’s defence wide open by freeing Comerford down the left with a cheeky back-heel and his low cross was forced home from closerange by O’Halloran.

WATERFORD – Corbet; Feely, Browne, Webster, Comerford; Keegan; Hery, Holohan, Aborah (Barnett 80); Ikinade, O’Halloran (Walsh 90).

DERRY CITY – G Doherty; McDermott (Kayode 81), Cole, Aganovic, B Doherty; Low, McEneff; McDonagh (Curtis 55), Rory Hale, Ronan Hale (Boyle 85); Patterson.

REF – R Hennessy (Limerick)