First up for Galway United are Athlone Town at home

GALWAY United will open their 2020 First Division campaign with a home game against Athlone Town on Friday, February 21, at Eamonn Deacy Park (7.45pm).

The fixtures list was released on Friday evening and features the controversial inclusion of a Shamrock Rovers ‘B’ side. The Dublin team – listed in the fixtures as ‘Shamrock Rovers II’ – replace Limerick FC, which folded last season after running up debts of close to €500,000, and they will provide the opposition for United’s first away game in Tallaght Stadium on Saturday, February 29 (3pm).

The First Round of the EA Sports Cup will be played on Monday, March 9; while the First Round of the FAI Cup is scheduled for the weekend ending Sunday, August 9. There will be a midseason break from Saturday June 13 to Thursday June 25.

The regular season is scheduled to run from Friday, February 21 to Saturday, September 19 – when United conclude their campaign with an away game against UCD – before the promotion play-offs begin.

This season, the winners of the First Division will be automatically promoted, but the teams that finished from second to fifth will still have the chance of also making the jump to the Premier Division.

The 2020 format will see the team that finishes second play the team that finishes fifth in a two-leg play-off; and the teams that finish third and fourth will also meet in a two-leg play-off. The winners of those two ties will then meet in another two-leg play-off; with the winners of that tie playing the team that finished ninth in the Premier Division, also in a two-leg play-off.

United are generally listed as 11/2 fourth favourites for the title, behind Drogheda United, Longford Town, and Bray Wanderers, and they look to be an attractive price considering the work that has been put-in during the off-season in preparing for the new campaign.

United manager, Alan Murphy, has assembled a squad of 23 players for the season, including the majority of last year’s panel, plus the addition of some experienced players.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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