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sport · Saturday 11 July 2026 · 5:00pm 
Galway United vs Sligo Rovers
At Pearse Stadium · Pearse Stadium, Galway, Co. Galway
At Pearse Stadium · Pearse Stadium, Galway, Co. Galway
Saturday afternoon football on the west coast of Ireland has its own particular pull, and this one brings a proper west-of-Ireland rivalry to one of the country’s great GAA grounds. Galway United host Sligo Rovers in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division on 11 July 2026, kicking off at 5pm at Pearse Stadium in Salthill. It is the sort of fixture that draws both committed supporters and casual visitors who happen to be in town and fancy an afternoon with a crowd - League of Ireland football at this level is genuine, competitive, and good value for a few hours of sport.
The match is part of Galway United’s temporary home run at Pearse Stadium while drainage work is carried out at their usual ground, Eamonn Deacy Park. Pearse Stadium is the principal GAA venue in Galway, a proper stadium with a capacity well above 30,000 and a covered main stand - far more atmospheric than a typical club football setting. For this fixture, home fans are housed in Main Stand Blocks D-L and the West Terrace; away Sligo supporters are in Blocks A and B.
Galway United and Sligo Rovers are genuine Premier Division rivals with a history of close, competitive matches. Both clubs have built strong followings in Connacht, and a late-afternoon Saturday slot at a large venue tends to bring a livelier crowd than a midweek night game. Arrive a little early to get your bearings - the stadium concourses fill up quickly on matchdays.
Pearse Stadium is on Rockbarton Road, Salthill, about 3km west of Galway city centre. By bus, the 401 route stops at Dr Mannix Road, takes roughly 15 minutes from Eyre Square, and is the easiest option if you are staying in the city. On foot from Eyre Square it is a 45-minute to one-hour walk along the Salthill promenade route, which is pleasant in summer. By car, parking at the stadium itself is very limited. The main designated car park for home fans is at Coláiste Éinde Secondary School on Threadneedle Road (H91 X798), roughly 600 metres from the stadium, with 540+ spaces at €5 per car, opening two hours before kickoff on a first-come basis. Additional car parks are available in Galway city and Salthill town, with a short walk or bus connection from either.
Salthill is worth an hour of your own before or after the match - the promenade runs along Galway Bay and has no shortage of pubs, chipper options, and places to watch the Atlantic light change in the evening. Galway city centre is a short bus or taxi ride away, with plenty of places to eat and drink after the final whistle. There is more to see in Galway and across Co. Galway.
Heading to Pearse Stadium in Galway? Galway has plenty more to see. Read the Galway area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.