Waterford FC have stretched their remarkable unbeaten run to ten matches after a 2-0 away win against St Patrick's Athletic on Friday night. Second-half goals from Jørgen Voilås and John Mahon secured the three points at Richmond Park, continuing the team's dramatic turnaround under manager Graham Coughlan.
How did Waterford beat St Patrick's Athletic?
According to RTÉ's match report, Waterford created the better chances despite St Pat's enjoying more possession. The visitors should have taken the lead early in the second half when Tommy Lonergan hit the crossbar from close range. The breakthrough came on 55 minutes. Lonergan pressured Zach Elbouzedi into an error, regained the ball, and crossed for Norwegian winger Voilås to score his fourth goal of the season. The win was sealed in the 76th minute when Mahon powered home a header from a Bernardo Couto corner, with goalkeeper Joseph Anang failing to claim the cross.
Stephen McMullan made a key first-half save from Luke Turner to keep the game level. The result leaves Waterford eighth in the table but with a four-point cushion over Drogheda United in the relegation play-off spot. You can see the full league picture on our standings page.
What did Graham Coughlan say after the match?
Speaking to RTÉ Sport, Coughlan deflected all praise onto his squad. "Look, it's nothing to do with me. It's all down to the group in the dressing room," the manager said. He explained that tactical tweaks at half-time, including a more aggressive press, paid dividends after a first half where he felt his side were "off a little bit." Coughlan highlighted the hold-up play of Lonergan and the work rate of captain Padraig Amond as vital to the victory. "I'm not standing here telling you that I'm a Jose Mourinho," he added, stressing the players' trust and application.
Where does this result leave Waterford's season?
The victory is another significant step in Waterford's fight for survival. Having been bottom of the table with just six points in May, they are now nine points clear of last-placed Sligo Rovers. Their recent form is the best in the league, with four wins and a draw from their last five games. This unbeaten sequence of ten matches includes seven wins and has completely transformed their campaign. The team's next challenge is a home fixture against Sligo Rovers on 4 September, a game you can find on our fixtures list.
While the 2025 season ended with a ninth-place finish, the current resurgence offers a different story. The Blues scored 41 goals but conceded 60 last term, finishing 27 points behind champions Shamrock Rovers. The defensive solidity shown in this latest clean sheet, and across the unbeaten run, points to clear improvement. With an FAI Cup quarter-final against Sligo also upcoming, the focus is on maintaining this momentum. For more on the players driving this form, visit our squad section.
