Long: One game left to change our lives

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND hotshot Shane Long believes good things come to those who wait.

The Reading striker sent the Royals into the npower Championship play-off final with a brace in the comprehensive 3-0 victory over Cardiff City.

But latecomer Long only took up football 11 years ago after an upbringing in hurling across the Irish Sea.

And the in-demand predator insists his burning ambition of becoming a Premier League marksman is stronger than ever despite two average seasons in the top-flight.

Long, 24, said: “I was quite late into the game and didn’t really start playing until I was about 13. I played hurling as a boy but then I was scouted to play for Cork City. It was a step into the unknown and I had a bit of catching up to do.

“I do miss hurling — it was my first love. But I’m obviously glad I made the change because it has worked out for the best and now we have one game to change the rest of our lives. The next level for us is the Premiership, it’s where the best players in the world compete every week and it’s the step that everyone here wants to make.

“We’re 90 minutes from the biggest league in the world.”

Long’s first-half double as well as Jobi McAnuff’s solo effort set up a final contest against Swansea City at Wembley on May 30.

But the 25-goal hitman believes the Welsh outfit will be favourites for the big-money game, valued at £90m (€102m). Long added: “The final is going to be a great game. Wembley is a big pitch and that will probably suit Swansea, but not many teams in this Division work harder than us. And we love being the under dogs.”