MATCH PREVIEW: Waterford FC vs Sligo Rovers FC

After the yearly mid-season break last week, the Blues kick-off the second-half of their 2026 season with the visit of Sligo Rovers to the RSC on Friday night, and we have everything you need to know ahead of kick-off on Friday night.

Waterford FC vs Sligo Rovers FC

SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division

Friday 12th June 2026

RSC, Waterford

7:45pm

WATERFORD FC

The Blues start their second-half of the season with the momentum they’ve built from their last four games prior to the mid-season break, with five points picked up in that period (1 win, 2 draws, one loss).

Graham Coughlan’s side picked up a point on the road with a dramatic 3-3 draw away to Drogheda United in our final game before the break. Tommy Lonergan broke the deadlock after just 15 seconds, before Kevin Long doubled our advantage midway through the first-half. The hosts turned the game around to lead 3-2, before Benny Couto’s stunning 86th minute strike secured us a point on the road.

Friday’s game is the third meeting between the Blues & Sligo this year, with the sides sharing a tight 0-0 draw at the RSC back in February, before the Bit O’Red defeated Waterford 2-0 at the Showgrounds in April.

Waterford remain at the foot of the Premier Division table going into Fridays game with 11 points from our opening 19 games.

SLIGO ROVERS FC

John Russell’s side travel to the RSC on Friday night looking to continue on from their own momentum they built up before the midseason break.

After a difficult start to the season for the Bit O’Red, Sligo have picked up 14 points from their last 9 games (4 wins, 2 draws, 3 losses), as they look to maintain that run when they visit the RSC on Friday.

Sligo currently sit in ninth position in the Premier Division table ahead of tomorrow night, with 19 points to their name from 19 games.

WATERFORD FC TEAM NEWS

After a the mid-season break, the Blues returned to training last week to build up to tomorrow nights clash at the RSC against Sligo Rovers.

Luke Heeney is available for selection, after missing our trip to Drogheda before the break through suspension, while Graham Coughlan will have to assess some of his players ahead of kick-off.

Finlay Armstrong [quad] remains absent.

GRAHAM COUGHLAN’S THOUGHTS

“The lads have had a break so hopefully they’ve been refreshed themselves. We’ve come back early the back end of last week, so we’ve got a little bit of work under our belts and hopefully that comes to fruition on Friday night against Sligo.

There has been a freshness to the players. There’s been a lot to admire, a lot to applaud, and a lot to work with over the last three or four weeks since we’ve come in through the door. There’s a lot we need to get stuck in to, a lot we need to fix & correct, but the green shoots that the players have given us over the last three or four weeks is positive. We’re coming away from games frustrated that we haven’t won them, which hasn’t happen before. We can’t get away from the fact that we can’t be getting punished for every error. Now it’s about showing that confidence & belief in the work we’re doing & performance levels the players are giving.

I can’t wait for the next game, as it happens to be against a team nearest to you. At this stage of the season, it doesn’t matter who you’re playing, it’s about the points, and it will be like that for the rest of the year. Every point is a prisoner for us, and we’re chasing hard. If we maintain our performance levels, I’m sure the points will come as well.

There’s three points available tomorrow. We give the same performance levels as we have in our last 3/4 games and that’s all we need to do. The lads have enjoyed their football here. They’ve gone from averaging 0.4 points per game to 1 point per game in just 4/5 games, so it’s about building on that further.

I’ve been impressed with the players attitude & work-rate, their data, everything that we talk about to them has gone up. There’s a lot to be positive about, but you know me, I’m going to want more. The players are going to want more. the fans are going to want more. The club wants more. We feel we should have had more points on the board than we’ve had over the last few games, seeing games through, so there’s lots to work on but the signs are certainly positive.”

TOMMY LONERGAN’S THOUGHTS

“Yeah I had a good month last month. I was very happy to get nominated for the player of the month, and I thought the team played very well too within the month. I think the gaffer has brought in new energy, new intensity, and I feel like you can see that in the games we’ve played.

The eight days away with the U21s was great. We played Qatar & Croatia in very warm weather, so it was a change to the style of football. In international football there are no easy games, you’re always playing against a high quality opposition, but it was a great experience being called up and hopefully I can get called up to the next camp tp represent my country again.

We have too much quality in this club that will help us get out of the situation we find ourselves in. Kevin [Long] has been a huge addition to us at the back – he’s been a Rolls Royce in there since he’s come in – and I feel if we can tidy up a few individual mistakes then I feel we can climb up the table.

Sligo is going to be a tough game, it’s a big game and if we can win then it’ll put us right back in the mix and we can start reeling them back in. They’ve got some serious quality in their side, Will Fitzgerald has been excellent for them, and they’ve got big lads at the back like Gareth McElroy, but we don’t fear anyone ourselves. Sligo are a good team but I definitely feel we can get on the other side of them tomorrow night.

Graham has instilled confidence in the whole squad since he’s come in. We’re playing as a team and as a unit now, and I feel we’re in a good spot now. Personally I feel confident going into every game and that I’m going to affect each game , as is everyone else in the squad.”