As football returned following the international break, the League of Ireland lit up with a thrilling weekend of action between 24th and 30th March. From dramatic late winners to top-of-the-table tussles, clubs returned hungry for points—and the fans got more than their money’s worth. Here’s a detailed breakdown of all the key fixtures and outcomes from the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division.

🏟 Bohemians vs. Galway United – Galway Stay Unbeaten

Result: Bohemians 0-1 Galway United
Venue: Dalymount Park, Dublin
Date: 28 March 2025

Galway United continued their remarkable start to the season with a narrow 1-0 away win over Bohemians. The result maintains Galway’s unbeaten run and keeps them firmly in the hunt for European qualification.

Bohemians boss Declan Devine acknowledged the challenge, saying, “Galway pressed us well and stayed compact. We couldn’t break them down.”

This loss marks Bohemians’ second straight defeat and raises questions about their midfield creativity and attacking sharpness.

🏟 Cork City vs. Drogheda United – Cork Deny the Leaders

Result: Cork City 1-1 Drogheda United
Venue: Turner’s Cross
Date: 28 March 2025

Drogheda United entered the weekend at the top of the table, but a gritty Cork City side held them to a 1-1 draw in front of a roaring home crowd. While Drogheda dominated possession, Cork’s resilience was on full display.

Kevin Doherty, Drogheda’s manager, remarked: “We had enough chances to win it, but credit to Cork—they made life very difficult.”

This result sees Drogheda slip from first, and their title credentials are now under scrutiny.

🏟 Waterford vs. St Patrick’s Athletic – Pat’s Edge Thriller

Result: Waterford 2-3 St Patrick’s Athletic
Venue: Regional Sports Centre
Date: 28 March 2025

One of the weekend’s most exciting matches unfolded in Waterford, as St Pat’s claimed a 3-2 victory in a rollercoaster five-goal encounter. Despite twice going ahead, Waterford were undone by a late winner from Chris Forrester, who now has four goals this season.

St Pat’s coach Jon Daly said after the match, “This team has spirit. We’re building momentum, and performances like this show our character.”

🏟 Sligo Rovers vs. Shelbourne – Duff’s Men Get It Done

Result: Sligo Rovers 0-2 Shelbourne
Venue: The Showgrounds
Date: 28 March 2025

Damien Duff’s Shelbourne side returned to winning ways with a confident 2-0 win away to Sligo Rovers. Goals from Sean Boyd and Kameron Ledwidge sealed the points.

Duff praised the team’s composure: “We were clinical tonight. That’s what we’ve been missing the last few weeks.”

For Sligo, this was a third straight defeat—something that manager John Russell will need to address swiftly.

🏟 Shamrock Rovers vs. Derry City – Rovers Rise

Result: Shamrock Rovers 2-1 Derry City
Venue: Tallaght Stadium
Date: 28 March 2025

In a clash of giants, Shamrock Rovers edged Derry City in a 2-1 thriller under the lights in Tallaght. Rory Gaffney opened the scoring before Derry equalised, but Graham Burke’s second-half goal made the difference.

Stephen Bradley, Rovers’ manager, hailed the effort: “We were relentless. That’s the standard we expect at this club.”

This win sees Shamrock Rovers leapfrog into second place, with just one point separating the top three.

📊 Premier Division Table (as of 30 March 2025)

Final Thoughts

With Galway United sitting unbeaten at the summit and heavyweights like Shamrock Rovers hot on their heels, the 2025 League of Ireland season is shaping up to be a classic. St Pat’s and Shelbourne are pushing into contention, while Sligo and Derry will need immediate turnarounds.

Next weekend promises more twists—and if this past week taught us anything, it’s that in the LOI, anything can happen.

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