Waterford will meet Derry City in the FAI Cup Final at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday, 8 November. The match kicks off at 15:00 local time, offering the Blues a chance to claim a major domestic honour.
Waterford enter the final nine days from now on the back of a 3-1 league win over Drogheda United last Friday. That result extended their winning run to two games and lifted them to eighth in the Premier Division standings with 40 points from 35 matches. Their recent form shows three wins from their last five outings, a sequence that includes a 3-2 victory over Galway United and a 2-0 win against Bohemians earlier this month. The team has averaged 2.2 goal minutes in their last five matches, indicating a consistent scoring threat throughout games.
Recent form
Derry City's path to the final has been more mixed, with two wins, a loss and a draw in their last four league fixtures. They defeated Dundalk 2-1 in their most recent match. Waterford's attack has been potent lately, with Padraig Amond scoring a brace against Galway and Tom Lonergan providing assists in consecutive games. Lonergan is the club's top scorer this season with nine goals in 35 appearances.
Head-to-head record
The two sides have shared the spoils in recent encounters. Their last four meetings produced two draws and a win apiece, with Waterford securing a memorable 4-2 away victory at the Brandywell in July. The most recent clash in September ended in a 2-2 draw at the RSC, suggesting another tight contest is likely.
Managers are expected to field strong sides, with Waterford likely to build on the 4-4-2 shape that delivered their recent wins. The team faces a final league test away to fourth-placed Shelbourne this Friday in their next fixture before turning full attention to the cup final. That match at Tolka Park is scheduled for a 19:45 kick-off.
Waterford will hope their leading marksman, Tom Lonergan, can add a cup-final winner’s medal to his nine-goal league tally on 8 November.
