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Galway United vs St. Patrick’s Athletic – Fri 21 Feb – Match Preview

20 Feb 2025
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MATCH PREVIEW: GALWAY UNITED VS ST. PATRICK’S ATHLETIC

📅 Date: Friday 21st February 2025
⏰ Kick-Off: 7:45PM
📍 Venue: Eamonn Deacy Park
🎟 Match Tickets: https://galwayunitedfc.ie/match-tickets/
🎟 Season Tickets: https://galwayunitedfc.ie/season-tickets/

🇱🇻 Finally, back at home.

The wait is over. Galway United return to Eamonn Deacy Park after a long off-season. We’re set to face title favourites St. Patrick’s Athletic in our opening game at home, in a repeat of the 2024 opener. Tickets are selling well for this one, and a big crowd is expected to back the Tribesmen in Terryland. United will be looking to right last year’s opening game, which saw the Saints come away with a 1-0 victory on the banks of the Corrib. The game will be live on Virgin Media with an exciting atmosphere for our first home game in months.

7 October 2023; Galway United supporters during the Sports Direct Mens FAI Cup semi-final match between Galway United and Bohemians at Eamonn Deacy Park in Galway. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

📺 Live on TV

Friday’s big clash against the Saints will be LIVE on Virgin Media. Which is available FREE on terrestrial TV and online at the Virgin Media Player. 

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📊 The Stats with Julian Canny

Friday will see the 91st meeting between the clubs, with 25 wins for United, 24 draws and 41 defeats. Our very first game in the League of Ireland was a scoreless draw at home to Pat’s back in 1977. It’s all come full circle now as almost fifty years later we take them on again at home. Last season we opened the year with a home game against St. Pat’s, with an early Jamie Lennon goal for the saints being the difference maker in a 1-0 win. In last season’s four meetings, St Pat’s had 3 one goal wins (1-0 in Galway on opening day and 2-1 twice in Richmond Park) and a 1-1 draw in Galway. Ed McCarthy scored both of United’s goals against them last season, with a nicely taken rebound in Eamonn Deacy Park and an almost Puskas Nominee worthy strike in Richmond Park.

 

For player milestone Brendan Clarke is in line for his 80th appearance, he has kept 38 clean sheets, the second most in the club’s history.

Regan Donelon in line for his 40th game for the club.

Jeannot Esua in line for his 30th game.

11 August 2024; Jeannot Esua of Galway United during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Galway United and St Patrick’s Athletic at Eamonn Deacy Park in Galway. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

⚽ Key Players to Watch

4 October 2024; Patrick Hickey of Galway United celebrates scoring his side’s first goal during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Galway United and Dundalk at Eamonn Deacy Park in Galway. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

🔥 Galway United – Patrick Hickey
Our first goalscorer of the season, Hickey burst back onto the scene in Turner’s Cross last Friday with a fantastic header to equalise right before the break. He has started 2025 as he ended 2024, scoring goals. The American has been a figure head for United as of late and will certainly have a key role to play in Friday’s big clash at Eamonn Deacy Park.

18 October 2024; Aidan Keena of St Patrick’s Athletic celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between St Patrick’s Athletic and Galway United at Richmond Park in Dublin. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

😇 St. Patrick’s Athletic – Aidan Keena
St. Pat’s have been one of the big spenders over the last few months. Bringing in multiple new players to boost their squad ahead of the 2025 season. They finished last season on a high, winning almost every game since the summer period. One of the key players for them was Aidan Keena, scoring an iconic goal against Sligo Rovers, his former team. Which he celebrated aptly. Keena joined in July, and this season will be his first full one with the Saints. He is an out and out striker, with a great eye for goal, and will certainly be one to watch in Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday.

🎟️ Matchday Info

🎫 Tickets – Available online Secure yours now, as the game is selling quickly.
🏟 Location: Eamonn Deacy Park, Galway City.
📺 Live TV Coverage: Virgin Media 

📢 Player and staff thoughts

Earlier this week, Galway United held a press conference ahead of Friday’s TV game. With Greg Cunningham and Ollie Horgan in attendance in front of the local, national and international press. Ollie Horgan exclusively revealed the loan signing of Cian Byrne at the conference ahead of Friday. Watch his thoughts below

📆 Last time out

Cork City 2 – 2 Galway United

Galway United began their SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division campaign with a draw against Cork City at Turners Cross on Friday night, in an enthralling encounter.

The hosts started the game on the front foot, and almost opened the scoring inside the first minute. Winger, Malik Dijksteel found himself in behind the United defence following a long-ball, however he fired his close-range effort off the post.

Despite this, United grew into the game but it was City who had the next big opportunity. Former United player, Ruairi Keating saw his effort fly over the bar in the 13th minute, following good build up by City.

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The hosts took the lead in the 34th minute, when Dijksteel picked up the ball on the left flank and struck a fine long-range effort with his right foot, which went past Brendan Clarke in the United goal.

United incredibly levelled the scoring on the stroke of half-time, against the run of play, following a fine header by Patrick Hickey. Stephen Walsh got on the end of a through ball, before he passed to Jeannot Esua, who played a delightful cross for Hickey to finish.

Cork City re-took the lead in the 51st minute, when Greg Bolger’s low driven effort off his left foot, found the back of the United net. A city free-kick was cleared only to Bolger, who rifled his effort home from outside the box.

14 February 2025; Rio Shipston of Cork City in action against David Hurley of Galway United during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Cork City and Galway United at Turner’s Cross in Cork. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

United almost levelled matters in the 60th minute, when Moses Dyer saw his left footed effort from four yards out blocked.

The Tribesmen incredibly equlised in the 80th minute, with an incredible finish by Vincent Borden. Borden picked up the ball on the edge of the box following a United corner, before turning and finishing to the back of the net from 18 yards out.

14 February 2025; Galway United Supporters after the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Cork City and Galway United at Turner’s Cross in Cork. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Sean Maguire almost responded instantly for hosts, as he saw his headed chance fly over the bar.

The game remained in the balance for the remainder of the half, with both sides creating half chances.

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🙋‍♂️ THE SQUAD

1. Brendan Clarke

2. Cian Byrne

3. Regan Donelon

4. Rob Slevin

5. Killian Brouder

7. Stephen Walsh

8. Greg Cunningham

9. Moses Dyer

10. David Hurley

11. Daniel Stynes

12. Sean Kerrigan

15. Patrick Hickey

16. Evan Watts

17. Vincent Borden

18. Bobby Burns

19. Max Wilson

20. Jimmy Keohane

21. Colm Horgan

22. Conor McCormack

24. Ed McCarthy

26. Garry Buckley

28. Brian Cunningham

29. Cillian Tollett

33 Jeannot Esua

C’MON UNITED!

Make sure to follow the official Galway United Instagram, X (Twitter) and Facebook accounts for matchday content and live game updates!

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