MATCH PREVIEW: Waterford FC vs St. Patrick’s Athletic FC

After back-to-back away wins over the last fortnight, the Blues return back home to the RSC with the visit of St. Patrick’s Athletic this Friday night with the game set to be broadcast live on Virgin Media Three & Virgin Media Play, and we have everything you need to know ahead of kick-off.

Waterford FC vs St. Patrick’s Athletic FC

SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division

Friday 10th July 2026

RSC, Waterford

8pm

WATERFORD FC

The Blues welcome St. Patrick’s Athletic to the RSC this Friday for our first home game in three weeks since our defeat to Shamrock Rovers on 19th June.

Since then, the Blues have travelled to Dundalk & Derry and returned with maximum points from both fixtures, lifting us off the foot of the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division table on goal difference after an excellent run on the road.

Waterford sit at the top of the form table over their last five games, picking up ten points in that spell, as they look to add to that number this Friday night against the Saints.

ST. PATRICK’S ATHLETIC FC

Stephen Kenny’s St. Patrick’s Athletic make the journey down to the RSC on Friday looking to continue their momentum after last week’s first-half blitzing of Galway United at Richmond Park, as the Saints fired in three unanswered goals in the first half an hour of action to return to winning ways after a Dublin Derby defeat away to Bohemians the week previous.

Pats have enjoyed travelling to the RSC in the last 18 months, winning their last 3 visits with their most recent win at the RSC coming in March with a 2-0 win.

The Saints sit in third position in the SSE Airtiricty Men’s Premier Division table ahead of Friday nights game, with 41 points from their opening 23 games in 2026.

WATERFORD FC TEAM NEWS

There are no fresh injury concerns for Graham Coughlan to contend with ahead of tomorrow’s game against St. Patrick’s Athletic at the RSC.

Earlier this week, the club confirmed Ronan Mansfield & Zak O’Sullivan have joined Cobh Ramblers & Wexford respectively for the remainder of the 2026 season, whilst Conor Carty has departed the club to sign for FC Halifax Town in the English National League.

Evan McLaughlin & Finlay Armstrong remain on the injured list.

GRAHAM COUGHLAN’S THOUGHTS

“Last Friday was very pleasing. We debriefed it Monday morning and there were a lot of positives to come out of it. The players are in a good place after it. There is of course a few little pieces we need to fix & correct, but since I’ve come in here I’ve seen a lot of growth and development within the dressing room, and I know there’s still a lot more to come from them, but in general the last couple of weeks have been really pleasing in terms of performance levels & attitude from the players.

Tomorrow is a huge challenge. St. Pats are one of the best teams in the country with a good manager & top players who are also a well supported club. They’re hungry this season, looking to push and challenge for the title this season. Every game & every week is a challenge for us, but at this moment in time our dressing room is looking forward to the next game. The big tests keep coming, but we’re looking forward to it, and hopefully we can maintain this form that we’re on at the moment, but it won’t be easy.

The fans have been brilliant since I’ve come in through the door. You hear them every single Friday night, even from the moment the players step out for the warm ups. I said the night we played Drogheda at the RSC the rain that fell that night but they still turned out in their numbers. The players are coming off the pitch after the warm up and the fans are already lifting them into the changing room. I spoke to the players before a game recently and I said to them before they went out to listen to the noise that’s being generated in the stand for you, and it worked.

The fans have been brilliant. If we can get a few more people in, a few more bums on seats & voices heard, hopefully we’ll be able to have a strong end of season finish at the club. They’ve been so important to us so far.”