The SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division is capturing the attention of football fans across Ireland, with Shelbourne vs Shamrock Rovers topping the charts as the most-watched game of the 2025 season so far.
The Dublin derby leads a strong top five that looks like this:
- Shelbourne vs Shamrock Rovers
- St Patrick’s Athletic vs Bohemians
- Galway United vs St Patrick’s Athletic
- Bohemians vs Shamrock Rovers
- Shelbourne vs Derry City
With audience numbers on the rise, Virgin Media Television has unveiled a packed summer schedule of live broadcasts as part of its four-year partnership with the league.
Live coverage resumes this evening, 13th June, with Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers meeting again at Tolka Park in what promises to be another blockbuster showdown.
The match will be shown live on Virgin Media Two and Virgin Media Play, with coverage beginning at 7:30 pm.
Brian Gleeson, Head of Sport at Virgin Media Television, said the figures are proof of growing interest:
“Irish football is thriving, and we’re proud to be at the heart of it. With packed grounds, passionate fans, and thrilling matches every week, we look forward to bringing even more memorable moments to the nation.”
With Friday night football now a permanent summer fixture, Virgin Media has announced four additional live games to keep the spotlight on the title race and European qualification battles:
Shamrock Rovers vs Cork City – Friday 20 June
Bohemians vs Shamrock Rovers – Monday 23 June
Cork City vs St Patrick’s Athletic – Friday 27 June
St Patrick’s Athletic vs Bohemians – Friday 4 July
The broadcaster is also leading the way in accessibility, announcing that audio descriptive commentary will be introduced for all live matches for the remainder of the 2025 season and the full 2026 season.
The initiative, supported by Rockshore 0.0, will make 52 matches accessible to more fans than ever before.
“Now that other international leagues have wrapped up, it’s the perfect time to embrace the excitement of Irish football, supporting our local clubs, celebrating the passion of homegrown talent, and being part of a thriving league that constantly delivers unforgettable moments,” added Gleeson.
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