MATCH PREVIEW: Shamrock Rovers FC vs Waterford FC

The Blues are back on the road this Friday night, making the journey to Tallaght Stadium to take on Shamrock Rovers in our final SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division game before the September international window, and we have everything you need to know ahead of kick-off.

Shamrock Rovers FC vs Waterford FC

SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division

Friday 18th September 2026

Tallaght Stadium, Dublin

8pm

WATERFORD FC

Graham Coughlan’s Blues travel to Dublin once more this weekend looking to extend their impressive unbeaten run that now sees Waterford FC unbeaten in 13 games across all competitions in recent weeks.

Draws at home to Dundalk (1-1) last Friday & Derry City (2-2) on Monday at the RSC see the Blues remain unbeaten since 19th June – which was a 2-0 defeat at home to Shamrock Rovers.

Waterford remain in eighth position in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division table, 11 points clear of Sligo Rovers who occupy the sole automatic relegation spot, as we enter the final five league games of the season.

SHAMROCK ROVERS FC

Stephen Bradley’s side welcome the Blues to Tallaght Stadium for their final meeting against Waterford of the 2026 campaign, as they look to maintain their unbeaten nine-game streak against the Blues.

A 1-1 draw between the sides at the RSC in April was followed up with a 1-0 victory in Tallaght at the start of May, before Rovers’ 2-0 win at the RSC in June which has proved to be Waterford’s most recent league defeat.

The Hoops are winless in their last seven games across all competitions, and now find themselves in second place in the league table – albeit level on points with new leaders St. Patrick’s Athletic and have a game in hand on Stephen Kenny’s side.

WATERFORD FC TEAM NEWS

Sam Glenfield returned from injury on Monday evening as a second-half substitute against Derry City at the RSC after missing two months of action.

Jordan Houston & Will Johnson remain on the injury list for Friday’s trip to Tallaght.

GRAHAM COUGHLAN’S THOUGHTS

“Shamrock Rovers are still the benchmark in the league. They’re still the main team in Ireland, and have been for the last number of years, so hats off to Stephen Bradley and the Jone him & his staff have done. If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. First and foremost, you have to compete with them and then you have to beat them. If we want to be successful, whether that’s individually or collectively, you have to go up against the best, and Shamrock Rovers are certainly one of those.”

Watch Graham Coughlan’s pre-match press conference below in full:

NOAH MAWENE’S THOUGHTS

“Tomorrow will just be like any other game. These are the games you want to play well in as a player, against a side fighting for the league, with good quality in their side, and personally I’m excited to be playing the team that really has been the best in Ireland for the last 4/5 years.

We’re all excited for it. Where we’re at [being 13 games unbeaten], we just want to keep the run going after Friday night. We’re looking at it like any other game, and focused on how we can come away with three points.”

MATCH TICKETS

Match tickets for Waterford FC supporters for Friday night’s game remain on sale. All away-end tickets are sold online only, and no away tickets can be purchased at the ground on matchnight.

Ticket classes for the game are as follows: