Laws ‘in at the deep end’ at Hoops

It’s not often you hear an Airtricity League manager likening an upcoming fixture to a trip to Old Trafford, but then new Shamrock Rovers boss Brian Laws is the first man to manage in the League of Ireland having previously managed in the Premier League.

Agreeing his first game in charge of the Hoops — Saturday’s EA Sports Cup final clash with Drogheda United in Tallaght Stadium — counts as a baptism of fire, Laws said yesterday: “Absolutely. It almost reminds me of my debut for Burnley football club. My first game in charge was against Man United away. So talk about being thrown in at the deep end. But circumstances happen in football, managers and players do come and go, and for whatever reason, Rovers decided to part company (with Stephen Kenny).

“Stephen’s done a fantastic job with the players. I’ve worked with them this morning, they’ve got real good quality and it’s just a shame he’s not able to take them over the line into the final. I’m sure every manager wants to do that, to finish off the job. So hopefully I can do that for him.”