MATCH PREVIEW: Bray Wanderers FC vs Waterford FC

For the fourth time in five years, the Blues end their season in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division Promotion/Relegation Play-Off, as we travel to Tolka Park to take on First-Division Play-Off winners Bray Wanderers in this years showdown on Friday, and we have everything you need to know ahead of matchday!

Bray Wanderers FC vs Waterford FC

SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division Promotion/Relegation Play-Off

Friday 7th Novemer 2025

Tolka Park, Dublin

7:45pm

WATERFORD FC

Matt Lawlor’s Blues make the trip to Tolka Park this Friday as they face-off against Bray Wanderers in this years SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division Promotion/Relegation Play-Off.

Despite earning a point at home to Galway United in last Saturday’s final regular league game of the season, results elsewhere confirmed the Blues would face off against the First-Division Play-Off winners this Friday – with Bray defeating Treaty United at the Athlone Town Stadium 1-0 last Sunday in the First-Division Play-Off Final.

Waterford last played in the Promotion/Relegation Play-Off Final two years ago, when goals from Conor Parsons & Ronan Coughlan secured the Blues’ return to the top-flight of Irish football in a 2-1 extra-time win over Cork City FC at Tallaght Stadium.

BRAY WANDERERS FC

Bray earned their passage into this years Promotion/Relegation Play-Off Final for the second time in 12 months having defeated Treaty United FC 1-0 last Saturday in the First Division Play-Off Final, as Justin Ferizaj’s 90th minute goal gave the Seagulls their fate for this year’s finale.

Paul Heffernan’s side finished in third position in the SSE Airtricity First Division table, finishing 17 points behind eventual winners Dundalk FC. They were put up against UCD AFC in their First Division Play-Off Semi-Final where they defeated the Students 4-2 on aggregate to progress to their clash with Treaty last weekend.

Familiar faces in the Bray side include former Blues Harvey Warren & Killian Cantwell, plus names such as Jimmy Corcoran, Justin Ferizaj & Max Murphy – all who have earned Premier Division experience in recent years.

MATT LAWLOR’S THOUGHTS

“We’ve worked hard this week with another good week of training. We’re pleased at how we’ve trained this week – we’re not pleased that we’re in this week because ultimately that means the season has led us to this point – but the mood’s been good.

We’ve made the lads aware that Bray are a good team. We watched the game against Treaty. Some of our lads have played with the likes of Killian Cantwell & Harvey Warren, and Sean Brennan who was at Shamrock Rovers with Conan [Noonan]. There’s a knowledge base of the players there that is good, so the complaceny won’t be there at any stage for us. The performance will be decided on the day, but there will be zero chance of complacency in our preparation.

We’re going to need the fans to carry us again at times. It’s a final so nerves will be there for both sides. The lads had a direct shootout against Galway so we’ve had preparation for that element, as have Bray who came up through the First-Division knock-out. The fans will be a massive help right behind us, and hopefully in loud spirits too.”

RYAN BURKE’S THOUGHTS

“We all know how much it means to the club – the fans, the players – just how big of a game this is. Training has been going really well this week, and we’re all ready & focused to do the job on Friday.

I’m sure the fans will travel in their numbers like they have done all season. They’ve been brilliant & really drove us on at times, and hopefully it’s more of the same this Friday.”

MATCHDAY INFORMATION

Waterford FC supporters attending Friday’s SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division Promotion/Relegation Play-Off Final will be situated in the Main Stand of Tolka Park. All Waterford FC supporters must enter the ground via the regular away entrance at the Ballybough End of Tolka Park.

Turnstiles will open at 6:30pm, ahead of 7:45pm kick-off in Tolka Park.

Food Vendors & Sweet Shops will be open from 6:30pm for Waterford FC supporters in the away-end of the ground, with toilets available both in the Main Stand & beside the regular away-terrace.

Extra-time & penalties will be played if required, with a winner to be decided on the night.

MATCH TICKETS

Match Tickets for Waterford FC supporters attending Friday’s clash remain on sale online only. Adult tickets are priced at €20, with Senior, Student & U12 tickets priced at €10.

Click HERE to purchase your ticket.

MATCH COVERAGE

Friday’s SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division Promotion/Relegation Play-Off Final will be broadcast live on Virgin Media Two & Virgin Media Play from 7:30pm for viewers inside the Republic of Ireland.

LOITV will provide live coverage of the clash for anyone outside of Ireland watching across the globe.

Pre-match build up will begin from first thing on Friday morning across all of our Waterford FC official social media pages, with live in-game updates & post-match reaction avaiable across our Facebook, Instagram, X & YouTube accounts on matchnight.