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Ronan Finn celebrates with Barry Murphy (l) and Stephen Rice (r). ©INPHO/Lorraine O'Sullivan
7th heaven

We can definitely get better says Croly after 7-1 cup final win

“There’s a volcano waiting to happen,” said Mick Cooke. “It, unfortunately, exploded and we were the recipients of it.”

“I’M THANKING EVERYONE here but the goldfish,” remarked Trevor Croly after witnessing his team’s 7-1 hiding of Drogheda United.

Rovers put Drogheda to the sword at Tallaght Stadium and won the season’s first piece of silverware. Their manager, Croly, was eager to deflect all plaudits to his playing and backroom staff while sympathising with rival boss Mick Cooke and targeting a league resurgence.

He told TheScore.ie, “It’s brilliant for us but tricky for Mick… I’m sure he doesn’t want me feeling sorry for him but everything went right for us and didn’t for them.

I don’t want to sound cocky, and I’m not in any way, bu there were times when we were too open today and sacrificed [tight marking] for attacking. We can definitely get better. I’m not saying that in a funny way; our performances can, collectively, get better and that’s a positive thing.”

Croly reflected on the close call his side endured in the cup semi-final against Cork City at Turner’s Cross. A late Billy Dennehy free kick saw his team progress after Cork had squandered several scoring opportunities.

“It just goes to show you the small margins in this game,” he said. “Billy stood up and there was no-one else taking that free kick. You have to admire his character and desire, and the lads, to go down to Cork and win.”

Hoops manager Trevor Croly with the Setanta Cup. (Credit: ©INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan)

Ronan Finn, who scored two goals for Rovers, immediately switched focus to Tuesday’s league encounter against St Patrick’s Athletic. “There won’t be any celebrating,” he said, “trust me.”

Cooke tried his best to remain upbeat following United’s clattering to Rovers. “What went wrong?” he remarked. “They had 10 shots and scored seven. We had 20 and scored one.”

“Too many of our lads didn’t show up today and we were punished by a clinical Shamrock Rovers side,” he added before predicting a bright future for Croly and Rovers.

“There’s a volcano waiting to happen,” he commented. “It, unfortunately, exploded and we were the recipients of it.”

*Reporting by Niall Kelly.

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