The former MK Dons winger got his hands on silverware on Sunday

Darragh Burns’ first Derry City goal could not have come at a better time as the ex-MK Dons winger won the FAI Cup on Sunday.

The 24-year-old returned to the League Of Ireland last summer after leaving Grimsby Town but has had to wait to net his first goal for the club. And he did so in some style.

Midway through the second-half, he cut inside from the right flank, unleashing an unstoppable left-footed strike to beat Waterford keeper Stephen McMullan from the edge of the box in what turned out to be the only goal of the game.

Burns spent two-and-a-half years at MK Dons after signing in July 2022, but struggled to make his breakthrough into the first-team. He went back to Ireland on loan with Shamrock Roves in 2024 and looked set for a permanent return only to join Grimsby Town instead.

Spending 18 months with the Mariners saw Burns become a regular in Cleethorpes, but the lure of home saw him return for Derry last summer.

Burns had made 16 appearances for the Candystripes this season without finding the net, and feared he was about to be taken off with 20 minutes to go before finding the back of the net with the winner.

“I saw the substitutions getting going and I said to myself 'please just produce something' and it went in the back of the net so I'm over the moon,” he said.

“It took me longer than I expected to score my first goal, but nowhere better to get it than at the Aviva in the cup final. I dreamt of it last night and it's come true today.

“I hadn't had a shot yet in the game, just checked in on left, fake shot, went again and it hit the net.

“It's been a difficult year for the club, but we would have taken your hand off for this at the start of the season, so delighted.”