After an opening week that saw Derry City start their campaign to avenge losing the League of Ireland title last season, and an opening weekend where reigning champions Shamrock Rovers couldn’t even get to play due to a waterlogged pitch, we all know one thing: Ireland’s premier division is back.
The hope would have been that all ten teams would get to play this weekend, with four games kicking off this evening (Friday), and one on Saturday. However a number have fallen foul of the weather as for the 2nd week in a row Shamrock Rovers are left on the side lines as their encounter with Shelbourne is off due to a waterlogged pitch and the meeting of St Pats and Galway is also off following a pitch inspection. Drogheda Uniteds encounter with Waterford has gotten the go ahead. Drogheda opened with a narrow 0-1 away win to Galway, while Waterford, who survived relegation last season by beating Bray Wanderers in last season’s relegation playoff, got a point against Shelbourne.
Tomorrow Bohemians head to The Showgrounds to take on Sligo Rovers. Bohemians will be looking to improve on their fourth placed finish last season, where they finished 12 points off champions Shamrock Rovers, but their season got off to a lacklustre start as they drew 0-0 to St. Pat’s last week. Sligo kicked off their campaign with a 2-1 loss to Derry City.
Derry’s title ambitions began with an opening weekend win, and they return to action against Dundalk. This is the first meeting between the sides since October 2024, where Derry won 2-0. Dundalk’s return to the Premier Division is tonight; they were down to play Shamrock Rovers, before that game was postponed.
