IT WAS THIS time last year that Shamrock Rovers were starting from scratch.
Pat Fenlon was let go as manager following a dismal 2-0 defeat to RoPS in the Europa League first round, where boos were audible from the home supporters in Tallaght Stadium at the final whistle.
Stephen Bradley took charge of the side as caretaker manager after that defeat and has overseen the first team ever since.
It has been a year of complete transformation on and off the field for the club and tonight’s Europa League meeting with Icelandic club Stjarnan will gauge just how far Rovers have come since Fenlon’s departure.
Bradley oversaw a fourth place finish in 2016 which, due to both Cork City and Dundalk contesting the FAI Cup final, qualified them for Europe.
Bradley won 10 out of 17 league games at the end of last season, with another 10 wins from 21 games this season giving the 32-year-old a win percentage of 52 per cent a year into his tenure.
This stable return combined with the club’s production line of young talent shows the Hoops to be a club on an upward trajectory compared with this time twelve months ago, even while trailing league leaders Cork by 23 points.
A new stand has been approved for Tallaght Stadium while March saw the club move all of their underage sides under one roof in their Roadstone base.
Phase One of Rovers’ new Academy saw a floodlit FIFA Pro Astro pitch built where young hopefuls will look to follow in the footsteps of players like Aaron Dobbs, James Doona and Aaron Bolger in making the transition into the first team.
Bradley, along with his coaching staff which includes assistant Stephen McPhail as well as Damien Duff, are overseeing the development of a club which commands a stability and future promise through the ranks which others in the League of Ireland could perhaps look on with envy.
However progression through Europe has been a difficult burden to overcome in seasons of late, with early exits from the qualifiers spelling the end of both Stephen Kenny and Pat Fenlon’s time in charge of the club.
They are not taking tonight’s second leg lightly despite their one goal advantage. Bradley admits that even the side’s excellent away win in Iceland last Thursday counts for nothing if they do not see the result out in Tallaght tonight.
“It was a great result over there. I thought we deserved the win and that we played well. We dominated large periods of the game and deserved the 1-0 win”, Bradley said speaking to The42 on Wednesday.
“But we know tomorrow is going to be a different game. They’re a good side and are dangerous, so we need to fully respect them and go and play the game as if it’s 0-0.”
Repeating the sentiments of his captain Ronan Finn who said Rovers will be looking to take the game to their opponents, Bradley said they will not be resting on their laurels despite their lead.
“The result from the first leg counts for nothing tomorrow because we have to go and repeat it”, Bradley said.
“I’m sure they are wanting to put the first leg right. But we’re a decent side so it will be easier said than done.
“They can come and play the way they want to play and do what they’re going to do. But they’re going to be playing against eleven Rovers players who want to get us into the next round.
“You never go and defend any lead. I think if you do that you’re asking for trouble. We’re going to approach it as if it is a one-off game and it’s 0-0 and go and try and win the game.
“Any team in any country will get chances whether it’s from set plays or elsewhere. We need to go and win the game.”
Despite the gap between themselves and Cork at the summit of the Premier Division, Bradley remains undeniably optimistic about Shamrock Rovers’ future.
“It’s a great club. It always has been a great club with great support”, he said.
“We have plans to take it back to where it should be — at the top.”
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