Match Preview – Galway United vs Shamrock Rovers – Friday 4th April 2025

🔍 Match Summary

Galway United are set to host title favourites Shamrock Rovers this Friday evening in front of a big crowd at Eamonn Deacy Park. Currently, Galway United currently sit unbeaten in second place in the Premier Division standings with 13 points, while Shamrock Rovers occupy the sixth position with 8 points. Below you will find an in depth look at the two sides and some information on tomorrow’s huge clash on the banks of the River Corrib.

🎟 Ticket Info

Tickets for the game are available through our website HERE. We highly encourage fans are to secure their tickets in advance online and arrive early as a big crowd is expected.

📲 Follow the Action

Can’t make it to Eamonn Deacy Park? Stay updated via:

• Detailed match updates on Galway United’s Twitter
• Watch live on LOITV
• Post-match reactions and highlights on Galway United YouTube Channel

 

⏰ Matchday Schedule

Below are some key timings for Friday’s game

🅿️ Free Parking – Black Box: 5:30 PM

🏟️ Stadium Gates Open: 6:30 PM

🛍️ Club Shop Opens: 6:30 PM🍻 Tribes Bar Opens: 6:30 PM

🍔 Food Vendors Open: 6:30 PM

🏃 Players Out on Pitch: 7:00 PM

⚽ Kick Off v Rovers: 7:45 PM

📊 Recent Form – Galway United

Galway United’s last five: WWDDD

Last game: Bohemians 0-2 Galway United

Last time out United recorded a win in Dalymount Park against Bohemians, thanks to a Moses Dyer brace. You can watch the highlights below:

⚽ Recent Form – Shamrock Rovers

Shamrock Rovers’ last five: DWWLD

Last game: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Derry City

Last time out Shamrock Rovers earned a point at home to Derry City. An exciting encounter with two red cards, you can watch the highlights below:

 

🔑 Key Players to Watch

• Moses Dyer – Galway United: Dyer scored a brace in United’s last game, with a brilliant header and a sublime volley. The New Zealand international is coming into form for the Tribesmen now with three goals in March and a Player Of The Month nomination. Check out exclusive pitchside footage of his second goal below:

Stop whatever you’re doing and watch this absolute screamer by Moses Dyer 🤩#ItsATribalThing | #GUFC2025 | @LeagueofIreland | Goal Partners: @hsscu pic.twitter.com/UL1dlbo5Ll

— Gaillimh Aontaithe 🇱🇻 (@GalwayUnitedFC) March 28, 2025

 

• Graham Burke – Shamrock Rovers: Burke has been one of the most consistent performers for Shamrock Rovers through the years, being at the club in two long spells over the last decade. Burke’s technical ability is some of the best in the country, and can change a game in the blink of an eye. Burke previewed the game with the Shamrock Rovers media team, check it out below:

▪️ Difficult game expected v Galway Utd
▪️ The team’s current form
▪️ Body is feeling good

💬 Graham Burke speaks to SRFCTV ahead of our trip out west tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/eN4JFajYLD

— Shamrock Rovers FC (@ShamrockRovers) April 3, 2025

🗣 Pre-Match Thoughts

First team captain Greg Cunningham spoke to us ahead of the game, which you can read and listen to in full below:

A massive win against Bohemians last Friday, with an incredible defensive performance. Tell us your thoughts on how the game went?

Bohs are a quality outfit. Their results probably haven’t mirrored some of their performances this season, but they posed a big attacking threat, and at times, we had to soak up some pressure. However, we defended immensely, and we stuck to the game plan, which was executed very well. We were delighted to get a clean sheet away from home, and yeah, it was a big three points.

Moses Dyer said his second goal was probably his best strike of his career. What did the lads make of it?

Oh yeah, everyone was buzzing off Moses’ second goal. You couldn’t even joke about it, that he didn’t mean it. Because it was such a sweet strike and he knew exactly what he wanted to do. That just shows what Moses is capable of. He’s come into the squad and really added that quality at the top end of the pitch. We’re just delighted for him to grab two goals.

Both goals I thought were taken fantastically, especially that wonder strike against Bohs again, right in front of the away fans. It was sweet and we’re all buzzing for him.

Another huge game as we welcome Shamrock Rovers tonight. How has preparation gone this week for The Hoops?

Shamrock Rovers are a top-quality side. They’ve proven that consistently over the last number of years domestically and most recently during their successful European campaign. It’ll be a tough game for us. Stephen Bradley has really stamped his philosophy on that squad and club. They’re very effective in what they do.

They’ve got huge threats all over the pitch but we’ll be ready for Rovers. We’ve been working hard in the build up and we’re at home. We’re doing well and we just want to keep that momentum going for ourselves in front of what I’m sure will be a noisy and full crowd at Eamonn Deacy Park. It’s going to be a quality game to watch and be part of, and I feel it’s one the supporters are really looking forward to.

 

Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley has also given his pre-match thoughts to the Rovers media team which you can view below:

▪️ Getting better as the season goes on
▪️ Galway United – an excellent side
▪️ Squad in a good place

💬 Stephen Bradley previews our match against Galway United tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/F0zUsrKb3g

— Shamrock Rovers FC (@ShamrockRovers) April 3, 2025

 

📊 The stats with Julian Canny

It will be the 97th meeting between the clubs with 12 wins for United, 18 draws and 66 wins for Shamrock Rovers

At Premier Division level (since 85-86) it will be the 70th meeting of the clubs and Unitd have only won 6 times with 17 draws and 46 defeats.

At home we have played Shamrock Rovers 45 times winning 6, drawing 7 and losing 32.

Shamrock Rovers are unbeaten in 34 consecutive games against Galway United. Their win in Galway in March last season was their 21st in a row over us, a run which finally ended with a 1-1 draw in Tallaght in April thanks to a Patrick Hickey goal.

In Galway Shamrock Rovers won on their last 13 visits dating back to a 1-1 draw in 2008 and haven’t lost to Galway United since 2006.

Our last Premier Division win over Shamrock Rovers came in September 2000 thanks to an Eric Lavine goal.

Possible player milestones:

Killian Brouder in line for his 160th appearance 

Vincent Borden in line for his 75th appearance 

Jimmy Keohane is also in line for his 25th appearance 

The 4th April:

We have played five times before on this date with 1 win, 1 draw and 3 defeats

Most recently in 2014 we beat Cobh 4-0 at home under Tommy Dunne. Stephen Walsh scored a brace along with Ryan Manning and Jason Molloy. Manning was most recently playing for Ireland, Jay Molloy scored the winner for Mervue in their Connacht Junior Cup Quarter-Final away at Boyle Celtic recently and of course Walsh..

Most famously on this date though we lost the FAI Cup semi-final to Finn Harps 26 years ago (1999). In the second half Michael Keane had equalised an early Donal O’Brien goal for Harps before Jonathan Speak scored the winner. Speak was a thorn in United’s side through his career scoring 17 times against us, one of only three players to score more goals against us than John Caulfield did!

Miscellaneous stats:

Last week’s win was our 200th in the Premier Division and 250th in the top flight counting the years of one Division before 1985-86.

Of our six home wins against Shamrock Rovers only one has been by more than a goal, a 2-0 win in April 1989, the last day of the season when Kevin Cassidy and Derek Rogers scored.

Rovers biggest win in Galway came in September 1993 when Galway United were newly promoted. They won 5-0 in the Sportsgrounds at the time.

Lee Grace and Aaron Greene both played for United earlier in their careers.Grace scored once in 26 appearances in the 2017 season after joining us from Wexford before leaving for Rovers that season. While Aaron Greene played 14 times in 2010 scoring 5 goals. Greene has since scored 4 goals against us while Lee Grace scored a late winner to knock us out of the 2019 FAI Cup. 

Tuam man Rory Gaffney also scored against us in an FAI Cup win in Tallaght in 2021, his only goal against us.

The four goals against us last season were scored by Johnny Kenny (x2), Mark McNulty who have both left, Danny Mandriou who is working his way back after injury and an own goal.

C’mon United – see you at Eamonn Deacy Park!

Match Partners: Marvoy Office Supplies

 

Matchball Partners: Cellar Bar