TUESDAY evening’s long haul up to Donegal turned out to be far more rewarding than we had any right to expect.

HOME at last. It might be more deep south than southside but when Shamrock Rovers take to the pitch in the Tallaght Stadium this evening (kick off 8.05pm, all other games 7.45pm) it will finally bring to an end 22 years a-wanderin’ since they played their last game at Milltown before the wrecking ball put paid to the rich history of one of Irish football’s most cherished grounds.

SLIGO ROVERS FC yesterday issued a fresh appeal to save the stricken club, the eircom Premier Division outfit pointing out that it needed to match a weekly financial commitment of €17,000 just to stay afloat.

Tallaght Stadium, the new home of Shamrock Rovers, is to receive €825,000 from the RAPID Sports Capital grant fund.

EVER opened up a book and felt like you were looking in a mirror? Your correspondent had that experience this week and, no, before you ask, it wasn’t The Great Gatsby. Or even the latest Harry Potter.

Soccer correspondent Liam Mackey on Hill 16, GAA tactics and Dublin humour.

BACK in 1987, when Glenmalure Park was standing in the shadow of the wrecking ball, supporters of Shamrock Rovers organised a campaign to try and save the famous ground. They called it KRAM - Keep Rovers At Milltown.

Shamrock Rovers have named Drogheda United’s home ground, United Park as their home venue for next season.