The Blues are back in action at the RSC this Friday night, as Jon Daly’s side welcome Galway United to the RSC for our latest encounter against John Caulfield’s side, and we have everything you need to know ahead of kick-off.
Waterford FC vs Galway United FC
SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division
Friday 24th April 2026
RSC, Waterford
7:45pm
WATERFORD FC
Waterford head into Friday’s game looking to bounce back from last Saturday’s defeat at The Showgrounds against Sligo Rovers. After two points picked up over the Easter weekend, goals either side of half-time from John Russell’s side last weekend inflicted defeat on the Blues on the road.
Attention now turns to tomorrow night’s clash at the RSC against Galway United – our second meeting with the Tribesmen in 2026. Our first fixture against Galway took place at the end of March in Eamonn Deacy Park, as the hosts prevailed narrowly on a 4-3 scoreline, with Blues goals on the night coming from a Gianfranco Facchineri own goal, Pádraig Amond & a late Tommy Lonergan penalty.
Friday’s game is the start of a busy schedule for the Blues, with eight games to be played between now and the end of May.
GALWAY UNITED FC
Galway United travel down to the RSC on Friday evening looking to return to winning ways after falling to a 2-1 defeat away to Dundalk last Friday night in Oriel Park. A quick fire double from Declan McDaid late on gave the hosts a two-nil lead, before Stephen Walsh’s acrobatic effort in injury time gave Galway a consolation goal on the road.
Prior to their trip to Dundalk, Galway had picked up successive wins over the Easter weekend at home to Derry City (2-1) & away to Drogheda United (3-2) – results that currently see Friday’s visitors sit in sixth position in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division ahead ahead of kick-off at the RSC.
WATERFORD FC TEAM NEWS
Jon Daly has no fresh injury concerns to contend with after last weekend’s game against Sligo Rovers. Stephen McMullan, Tommy Lonergan & Sam Glenfield all returned to the matchday squad for our clash at The Showgrounds, after picking up knocks in recent weeks.
Conan Noonan will be assessed ahead of kick-off, after picking up an ankle knock against Bohemians two weeks ago, whilst Finlay Armstrong continues his recovery following his lengthy spell on the sidelines.
JON DALY’S THOUGHTS
“Galway will be a tough opponent. John [Caulfield] will have them very organised, and he’s very experienced in the managerial game in this league and knows how to win a game. They have good players that can unlock teams, so we’ll need to match them, we’ll need to be up for the fight from the start, and if we do I think we’ll give ourselves the best chance of getting a result.
The team that will we on the pitch tomorrow will be a team that works hard and who will give everything for the Waterford team and the Waterford fans. We’re working every minute we have to try and make things right. There’s plenty games to come for us to get us ourselves out of the situation we’re in, and we know everyone in pulling in the same direction which will help the squad to try get the right result.”
SAM GLENFIELD’S THOUGHTS
“Tomorrow’s game is one we’ve identified, and one we feel we can go and win. We were disappointed with last weekend, so we want to put that right tomorrow night against Galway after a hard week training this week.
The fans are the 12th man. They’ve stuck with us in the hard times before, and they’ve been there for the good times, and we know they’ll be right behind us again tomorrow night pushing us on to get three points. We’ll continue to fight every Friday night in every game, so we know we’ll have them right behind us.”
