Galway United will have to wait until Friday week when they take on Athlone Town at Terryland Park for their first pre-season clash, after Limerick 37 pulled out of this Friday's planned game.

NEW KID ON THE BLOCK . . . Galway United manager Tony Cousins with new signing Gary Deegan who has joined the Tribesmen from Longford Town.

Limerick 37 informed Galway United they would be unable to fulfil the fixture because of ongoing difficulties.

United will open their new league campaign on Friday, March 7, but their second match is set to be moved to Saturday, March 29, because of an unfortunate fixture clash.

The club said it is disappointed that the eircom League has scheduled them to play Shamrock Rovers at Terryland Park on the same evening that Connacht Rugby take on Munster in the Magners League a short distance away in the Sportsground.

Galway United chairman John Fallon said that the club contacted the League in early December requesting, where possible, that home fixtures did not clash with Connacht rugby games.

"Galway United and Connacht both play their home games on Friday evenings. Last summer we approached Connacht and gave them a list of our remaining home fixtures and asked that they contact the Magners League with a view towards avoiding clashes.

"As a result there was just one overlapping fixture. It is inevitable with television requirements and so many other factors that there will be occasional clashes but every effort should be made to avoid that," he said.

Galway United will kick off their campaign at home to Bohemians and then have two successive away games before their scheduled March 28 clash with Shamrock Rovers.

"Connacht have three remaining home fixtures once our season kicks off and unfortunately there is going to be a clash for two of those.

"Connacht have two successive home fixtures in May so it was likely to be a clash with one of these, but we specifically highlighted the Connacht game against Munster on March 28.

"There is a significant overlap in supporters of both sides — the only two full-time professional sports side in the province — and we will now have to look at moving the Shamrock Rovers game to another date.

"It is not fair that fans should have to make a choice of going to one match or the other. The two games would rank among the prime fixtures for the season by Galway United and Connacht.

"While accepting that there are a lot of factors to be taken into account in making fixtures, it is nevertheless disappointing this has arisen given that the club was proactive on the matter in early December," added Fallon.

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