MATCH PREVIEW: Sligo Rovers FC vs Waterford FC

After three consecutive home games at the RSC, the Blues return to the road this Friday evening for an important trip to the Showgrounds as Graham Coughlan and his side take on Sligo Rovers in our final SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division meeting for the season, and we have everything you need to know ahead of kick-off.

Sligo Rovers FC vs Waterford FC

SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division

Friday 21st August 2026

The Showgrounds, Sligo

8pm

WATERFORD FC

The Blues make the 330km trip to the Showgrounds looking to continue their rich run of form that has seen Waterford go eight games unbeaten – winning their last three games against Shelbourne (1-0), Bohemians (3-1) & Athlone Town (2-1).

Earlier this week, the Club Orange Men’s FAI Cup quarter-final draw paired the Blues with Sligo Rovers in the fourth round draw, with the Blues drawn at home for next month’s fixture – a fifth meeting between the sides this year.

Waterford sit in eighth position going into Friday night’s clash at the Showgrounds, six points ahead of bottom placed Sligo with 28 points to our name as we enter the final round of fixtures.

This weekend’s game has been moved from the usual Saturday night kick-off in Sligo to a Friday night kick-off to facilitate live television coverage of the game, with the game at the Showgrounds to be broadcast live on Virgin Media 2 & Virgin Media Play from 7:30pm.

SLIGO ROVERS FC

Sligo welcome the Blues to the Showgrounds on Friday evening, looking to make it back-to-back wins for the first time since April, following their comprehensive 4-0 win over Kerry FC in their Club Orange Men’s FAI Cup Third Round tie in Sligo last weekend. Goals from Cian Kavanagh, Alex Nolan, Carl McHugh & Kaiyne Woolery earned Sligo their place in the quarter-final of this year’s competition.

In 2026 to-date, it’s been one win a piece for the Blues & Sligo in our league meetings so far. A 0-0 RSC draw in February was followed up with a 2-0 win at the Showgrounds for the hosts in April, before June gave the Blues an impressive 4-0 home win at the RSC with Pádraig Amond netting his second hat-trick for the club.

With Darren Purse now the man in charge at Sligo, the Englishman will look to turn the Bit O’Red’s season around as they enter the final two months of action in 2026.

WATERFORD FC TEAM NEWS

Will Johnson & Sam Glenfield are unlikely to feature on Friday in the north-west, after both picked up injuries in recent weeks.

There are no fresh injury concerns for the Blues this weekend following last Friday’s win over Athlone at the RSC.

16 year-old defender Aaron Brennan was included in the matchday squad for the first time last week, having impressed for our MU20’s in recent weeks.

GRAHAM COUGHLAN’S THOUGHTS

“It’s a game of football, it’s three points at the end of the day. It’s a game where we need to go and enjoy. We need to get back to the way we play, what we’re good at. Getting the basics right, pressing, being better with the ball, all of those things. But it’s a game to look forward to. I always look forward to my football, and I think the lads should do as well.

It’s been a great little run for us, a great run of form we’re in, so we’ll be looking to add another victory. I’m not going to get too caught up with Sligo and the game, I just hope there’s pressure in the game because we’re a better team when there’s pressure, both individually and collectively, when there’s an expectation. Hopefully there’s a good atmosphere there tomorrow, because that’s when what we relish in, when we step up and give our best.

MATCH TICKETS

Away-end tickets for Waterford FC supporters making the journey to Sligo on Friday are on sale now. Please note that all tickets are sold online only, and none will be available to buy at the ground ahead of kick-off.

The ticket pricing for tomorrows game against Sligo is as follows: