All roads lead to the RSC this Saturday for our final SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division game of the 2025 season, as the Blues welcome Galway United in a crucial head-to-head clash (4:30pm) – and we have everything you need to know ahead of kick-off!
Waterford FC vs Galway United FC
SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division
Saturday, 1st November 2025
RSC, Waterford
4:30pm
WATERFORD FC
The Blues welcome John Caulfield’s side to the RSC this weekend, with stakes as high as ever as both sides look to secure their Premier Division status for 2026.
Waterford come into Saturday’s game full of confidence after an impressive performance away to St. Patrick’s Athletic last Friday as Ryan Burke’s first-half injury-time header gave Matt Lawlor’s side a crucial point away from home in a 1-1 draw.
In our last meeting against Galway United in Eamonn Deacy Park back in July, Waterford produced an excellent performance to secure a 4-2 win on the road – our first win in Eamonn Deacy Park in 18 years. Conan Noonan opened the scoring, before Pádraig Amond fired home a brace along with an own-goal, to give the Blues an important win.
We also defeated the Tribesmen 1-0 in our most recent meeting at the RSC back in May – Darragh Leahy’s first-half header proved the difference between the sides as the Blues picked up another important win.
Going into Saturday’s clash at the RSC, it’s the Blues who sit in ninth position in the league table with 38 points to our name – the same points as Galway United & Sligo Rovers, with both sides having a better goal difference compared to Waterford ahead of kick-off at 4:30pm. Sligo Rovers travel to Tallaght Stadium to take on Champions Shamrock Rovers in their final game at the same time.
GALWAY UNITED FC
John Caulfield’s side make the journey down to the RSC this Saturday looking to earn their status in the Premier Division for 2026 themselves.
A 1-0 loss to Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght Stadiun on Wednesday gave the league title to Shamrock Rovers, while the defeat leaves Galway United level on points with the Blues & Sligo Rovers going into Saturday’s final round of fixtures.
Galway picked up a 1-0 win against the Blues in March at Eamonn Deacy Park, before falling to defeat in our following two meetings, as we gear up for a tight-affair at the RSC this weekend.
MATT LAWLOR’S THOUGHTS
“We’ve prepared as we can be for Galway. We went & watched them on Wednesday, so we’re as well prepared as we can be.
In the best possible way, I hope tomorrow’s game is my last game with the club. The job obviously was to see the season out, so my dream is to go back to Fleetwood after a job well done here.
We spoke to the players about the RSC being sold-out tomorrow, and it makes a huge difference to the players. We know we have to get the crowd going, because we’re going to need them, and I can;t wait to see & hear the supporters cheering the lads on.
Galway are a really well-organised, committed good football team. They have a distinct style of play with a lot of good players. They’ve got focal points throughout the team, so I’m expecting an organised team looking to win a game tomorrow.
Matty smith has been coming back fitter & fitter each week, playing bigger parts coming off the bench. We’ve got a couple of niggles here & there that every club at this part of the season has. Jordan Rossiter, Finlay Armstrong & Adam Coyne will be out, but other than that it’s an end of season full bill of health”
