The first Connacht derby of the 2025 Premier Division season is upon us with bottom of the table Sligo Rovers hosting a Galway United side who have had a start to the season that their supporters will be extremely pleased with.
The Bit O’Red have lost their last three matches, having a man sent off in two and are also missing a lot of their key players, whilst Galway, despite loosing last week to Shamrock Rovers, have been one of the standout sides in the opening weeks of the Premier Division season.
Team News
Wilson Waweru and Stephen Mallon are expected to be unavailable due to injury. Jake Doyle will complete his suspension and will be available next week, however Cian Kavanagh will still be absent due to suspension for Sligo’s trip to Waterford.
Moses Dyer will be another name in the list of suspensions after picking up too many yellow cards. Cian McCormack, Colm Horgan and Brendan Clarke are all expected to be out with injury.
Key Stats
In the four meetings between the sides last season they couldn’t be separated on three occasions with Sligo Rovers picking up the only set of three points last summer. Galway United haven’t beaten Sligo Rovers since September of 2017.
Galway United have yet to score more than two goals in a game so far this season, but they face a poor Sligo Rovers defence that have conceded first in 6 of their 8 games, with both Bohemians and St Patrick’s Athletic putting the ball in the Sligo net four times.
Key Players
With Waweru sidelined due to injury, Sligo Rovers will likely rely on forward Owen Elding in the upcoming Connacht derby against Galway United. Elding is currently the team’s top scorer with three goals this season and will be instrumental if Sligo are to get anything out of this game.
Stephen Walsh scored 9 league goals last season but is yet to open his 2025 tally, despite starting 7 of Galway’s 8 league games. This will be the game he will be hoping can kickstart his season, with no Moses Dyer he will be the focal point of John Caulfield’s attack.
Betting Odds
Galway United are the unsurprising betting favourites priced at 1/1 with Sligo Rovers at 9/4 and a draw priced at 12/5.
When and Where to Watch
The game will kick off on Saturday the 12th of April at 7:45pm and will be broadcasted live on LOITV.