Soccer Oriel Park 27 June 2026

Bitter Blow for Dundalk as Waterford Seal Dramatic 3-2 Comeback Win

What started as a dominant display for the Lilywhites quickly turned into a nightmare scenario, as Waterford clawed their way back from a two-goal deficit to snatch all three points on Friday night.

Matches between Dundalk and Waterford in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division this season have guaranteed one thing: goals. Across their three meetings, a staggering 16 goals have hit the back of the net. While the Lilywhites previously enjoyed a five-goal hammering of their rivals at Oriel Park, this latest five-goal thriller saw Graham Coughlan’s men exact their revenge.

For the first half-hour, it looked like Ciaran Kilduff’s side was going to cruise to another memorable home victory. They commanded the game with complete control, breaking the deadlock in the 10th minute when Eoin Kenny beautifully flicked a header inside the near post off a Daryl Horgan corner. Harry Groome quickly doubled the advantage with a fiercely struck drive, and at that point, the visitors appeared completely overwhelmed.

The Momentum Shifts

However, Waterford found their lifeline through their talisman, Tommy Lonergan. After rattling the post from close range in the 40th minute, Lonergan managed to bundle the ball over the line deep into first-half injury time. Despite the frantic defensive efforts of Keith Buckley, referee Marc Lynch awarded the goal, completely altering the halftime team talks.

Shortly after the hour mark, disaster struck for the hosts. Lynch pointed to the penalty spot after adjudging Bobby Burns to have handled the ball inside the area. Lonergan stepped up and confidently slotted the penalty away, levelling the match.

With momentum fully behind them, Waterford relentlessly pressed for a winner. Dundalk still created chances of their own, primarily through the dangerous duo of Kenny and Horgan, but their failure to clear their lines ultimately cost them. With just four minutes of normal time remaining, a long throw-in caused chaos in the home box, allowing John Mahon to deliver a stunning acrobatic finish to seal the 3-2 victory.

📋 Official Match Lineups

Dundalk: Enda Minogue; Keith Buckley, Rob Cornwall, Bobby Burns, Tyreke Wilson; Aodh Dervin (Mayowa Animasahun, 74’), Harry Groome (Shane Treacy, 68’), Ronan Teahan; Eoin Kenny, Gbemi Arubi, Daryl Horgan.

Waterford: Stephen McMullan; Hayden Cann, John Mahon, Kevin Long; Jordan Houston (Trae Bailey Coyle, 80’), Luke Heeney (Samuel Glenfield, 56’), William Johnson, Dean McMenamy (Jurgen Voilas, 56’), Benny Couto; Tommy Lonergan; Padraig Amond.

Referee: Marc Lynch

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