TRY TELLING ANYONE at Shamrock Rovers that their sixth League of Ireland title in seven years was not one of the sweetest.
Oh, to savour a feeling like this one.
They were 4-0 up on Sligo Rovers and increasing their goal difference for the last night of the season if required.
It wasn’t.
Around the 81st minute news filtered through of Mipo Odubeko’s goal for Shelbourne against Bohemians at Dalymount Park. The boy from Tallaght was doing his local club a favour that was not quite needed but very much appreciated.
It meant Rovers could really embrace the moment. Stephen Bradley, the club’s most successful manager, was able to smile and acknowledge the crowd.
It felt like most of the 8,023 in attendance swarmed onto the pitch at full-time. There was no trophy lift tonight but that didn’t stop them throwing their heroes into the night sky instead.
Pico Lopes was serenaded in song at the end of year that sees him collect a sixth winners’ medal and look back on memories of playing at the World Cup with Cape Verde.
Stephen Bradley celebrates. Nick Elliott / INPHO
Nick Elliott / INPHO / INPHO
It might not have always felt like it this season but now Rovers could enjoy themselves. Adam Brennan’s first half brace was followed by goals from Aaron Greene and Dylan Watts entering the final quarter.
Important moments but nowhere near as emotional as the cherished sight of Gary O’Neill being sent on by Bradley. One year to the day that he was diagnosed with testicular cancer, the midfielder was back in green and white hoops.
He’ll also get his hand on silverware and another league winners’ medal. This was one at the expense of Rovers’ biggest rivals, Bohemians. They fell short and that only added to the delight here.
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Bodies heaved in the direction of the home dugout as Bradley, his staff and the players sprayed champagne.
They’re used to the tase of it.
Bradley’s programme notes made it clear that this was not someone laying the groundwork for an exit at the end of this season.
They are champions again and that feeling is not something he has ever taken for granted. He made that plain across two pages with a message for fans that was powerful.
Bradley acknowledged that the “unprecedented success” of his team in European competition over the past three years has meant his players have been “running on fumes at times” throughout this campaign.
Shamrock Rovers players celebrate. Nick Elliott / INPHO
Nick Elliott / INPHO / INPHO
When it mattered, though, they came on strong to come good yet again. This game was a case in point. The Hoops looked to be toiling in a laboured first half. They were given a scare on 17 minutes when Sligo striker Kaiyne Woolery missed a two-in-one chance from three yards at the back post.
He scuffed his first effort from the cross that came all the way over and then with the second attempt sliced it harmlessly wide.
Rovers faced no other danger than that with only complacency the biggest issue to contend with. Their play was passive and despite a title being there to take they were prepared to bide their time.
And then things opened up. Tunmise Sobowale injected some pace from the right, his cross was met by Watts and his wayward effort fell perfectly for Brennan who smashed into the top corner from around six yards.
Within two minutes the lead was doubled thanks to Brennan once again being in the right place at the right time. Rovers carved Sligo up with Watts’ clipped pass with the outside of his boot getting brought out of the night’s sky by PFA Ireland player of the year nominee Graham Burke.
The touch was deft and the cross sharp for Brennan striding onto it to finish low from just in front of the penalty spot.
In the 39th and 41st minutes Rovers ripped this game away from Sligo and had a firm grasp of the league trophy.
For Brennan, the 19-year-old is the latest example of how Bradley and Rovers operate. He arrived from UCD with exciting potential and began the campaign as a flying wing back. He ended it here as a central midfielder timing his runs into the box to perfection.
Adapt and conquer.
Brennan became a senior Republic of Ireland international during the summer and will be stronger for so much of his experiences this year.
With a two-goal lead you’d wonder what Bradley’s half-time talk was. Maybe some it was along the same lines as that message to fans in the programme, insisting the club should never “feel an entitlement to succeed.”
Aaron Greene scores the third. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
If he needed to keep them primed for more goals he might have repeated his stance that “it’s clear to see some members of the football community in Ireland are sick of us seeing us compete so regularly at the summit of Irish football.”
The manager spoke of dedicating his life to the club for the last 10 years and then addressed supporters directly with a plea to “help us self-maintain and govern the culture of the club.”
Bradley said he didn’t care if it was your mother, father, brother or sister, “I’m asking every member and supporter to internally call out any person who attempts to derail what we do.”
The Rovers boss went on, stressing that “there is so much for us to be excited about moving forward” and that “for the first time in a very long time every part of the club is now working as one.”
Greene and Watts added two more in the 71st and 74th minutes, the first a header the second a left-footed volley, yet it was the introduction of O’Neill that brought the biggest cheer of the night.
Well, until they were confirmed as champions again.
Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty; Daniel Cleary, Pico Lopes (captain), Lee Grace; Tunmise Sobowale (Luke O’Reagan 72), Dylan Watts (Gary O’Neill 79), John O’Sullivan, Will Fitzgerald (Jake Mulraney HT), Adam Brennan; Graham Burke (Jonathan Afolabi 79); John McGovern (Aaron Greene 61).
Sligo Rovers: Liam Hughes; Sebastian Quirk, Gareth McElroy (captain), Oliver Denham, Sean Stewart; Archie Meekison (Cian Kavanagh 55), Daire Patton (Aidan Gabbidon 62), Luke Young, James McManus (Luke Pearce 55), Jack Shorrock; Kaiyne Woolery.
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Shamrock Rovers put on a show to be crowned League of Ireland champions in style
TRY TELLING ANYONE at Shamrock Rovers that their sixth League of Ireland title in seven years was not one of the sweetest.
Oh, to savour a feeling like this one.
They were 4-0 up on Sligo Rovers and increasing their goal difference for the last night of the season if required.
It wasn’t.
Around the 81st minute news filtered through of Mipo Odubeko’s goal for Shelbourne against Bohemians at Dalymount Park. The boy from Tallaght was doing his local club a favour that was not quite needed but very much appreciated.
It meant Rovers could really embrace the moment. Stephen Bradley, the club’s most successful manager, was able to smile and acknowledge the crowd.
It felt like most of the 8,023 in attendance swarmed onto the pitch at full-time. There was no trophy lift tonight but that didn’t stop them throwing their heroes into the night sky instead.
Pico Lopes was serenaded in song at the end of year that sees him collect a sixth winners’ medal and look back on memories of playing at the World Cup with Cape Verde.
It might not have always felt like it this season but now Rovers could enjoy themselves. Adam Brennan’s first half brace was followed by goals from Aaron Greene and Dylan Watts entering the final quarter.
Important moments but nowhere near as emotional as the cherished sight of Gary O’Neill being sent on by Bradley. One year to the day that he was diagnosed with testicular cancer, the midfielder was back in green and white hoops.
He’ll also get his hand on silverware and another league winners’ medal. This was one at the expense of Rovers’ biggest rivals, Bohemians. They fell short and that only added to the delight here.
Bodies heaved in the direction of the home dugout as Bradley, his staff and the players sprayed champagne.
They’re used to the tase of it.
Bradley’s programme notes made it clear that this was not someone laying the groundwork for an exit at the end of this season.
They are champions again and that feeling is not something he has ever taken for granted. He made that plain across two pages with a message for fans that was powerful.
Bradley acknowledged that the “unprecedented success” of his team in European competition over the past three years has meant his players have been “running on fumes at times” throughout this campaign.
When it mattered, though, they came on strong to come good yet again. This game was a case in point. The Hoops looked to be toiling in a laboured first half. They were given a scare on 17 minutes when Sligo striker Kaiyne Woolery missed a two-in-one chance from three yards at the back post.
He scuffed his first effort from the cross that came all the way over and then with the second attempt sliced it harmlessly wide.
Rovers faced no other danger than that with only complacency the biggest issue to contend with. Their play was passive and despite a title being there to take they were prepared to bide their time.
And then things opened up. Tunmise Sobowale injected some pace from the right, his cross was met by Watts and his wayward effort fell perfectly for Brennan who smashed into the top corner from around six yards.
Within two minutes the lead was doubled thanks to Brennan once again being in the right place at the right time. Rovers carved Sligo up with Watts’ clipped pass with the outside of his boot getting brought out of the night’s sky by PFA Ireland player of the year nominee Graham Burke.
The touch was deft and the cross sharp for Brennan striding onto it to finish low from just in front of the penalty spot.
In the 39th and 41st minutes Rovers ripped this game away from Sligo and had a firm grasp of the league trophy.
For Brennan, the 19-year-old is the latest example of how Bradley and Rovers operate. He arrived from UCD with exciting potential and began the campaign as a flying wing back. He ended it here as a central midfielder timing his runs into the box to perfection.
Adapt and conquer.
Brennan became a senior Republic of Ireland international during the summer and will be stronger for so much of his experiences this year.
With a two-goal lead you’d wonder what Bradley’s half-time talk was. Maybe some it was along the same lines as that message to fans in the programme, insisting the club should never “feel an entitlement to succeed.”
If he needed to keep them primed for more goals he might have repeated his stance that “it’s clear to see some members of the football community in Ireland are sick of us seeing us compete so regularly at the summit of Irish football.”
The manager spoke of dedicating his life to the club for the last 10 years and then addressed supporters directly with a plea to “help us self-maintain and govern the culture of the club.”
Bradley said he didn’t care if it was your mother, father, brother or sister, “I’m asking every member and supporter to internally call out any person who attempts to derail what we do.”
The Rovers boss went on, stressing that “there is so much for us to be excited about moving forward” and that “for the first time in a very long time every part of the club is now working as one.”
Greene and Watts added two more in the 71st and 74th minutes, the first a header the second a left-footed volley, yet it was the introduction of O’Neill that brought the biggest cheer of the night.
Well, until they were confirmed as champions again.
Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty; Daniel Cleary, Pico Lopes (captain), Lee Grace; Tunmise Sobowale (Luke O’Reagan 72), Dylan Watts (Gary O’Neill 79), John O’Sullivan, Will Fitzgerald (Jake Mulraney HT), Adam Brennan; Graham Burke (Jonathan Afolabi 79); John McGovern (Aaron Greene 61).
Sligo Rovers: Liam Hughes; Sebastian Quirk, Gareth McElroy (captain), Oliver Denham, Sean Stewart; Archie Meekison (Cian Kavanagh 55), Daire Patton (Aidan Gabbidon 62), Luke Young, James McManus (Luke Pearce 55), Jack Shorrock; Kaiyne Woolery.
Referee: Arnold Hunter.
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League of Ireland LOI Ole Ole Shamrock Rovers