How does this Shamrock Rovers side compare in pantheon of League of Ireland winners?

The lack of European progress perhaps explains why this Shamrock Rovers side have yet to attract the kudos of the last Hoops team to record back-to-back titles

Lee Grace of Shamrock Rovers, left, and manager Stephen Bradley celebrate after the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division match between Shamrock Rovers and Finn Harps at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Indisputably deserved that it was, the question still lingers as to whether the league title retained by Shamrock Rovers tonight stemmed from their supremacy or the sparsity of competition.

Only once during the season – when Sligo Rovers beat the Hoops at Tallaght in May to move top – did a title race seem realistic but a dire run of six defeats in their next 11 matches knocked the Bit O’Red’s ambitions off a cliff-face akin to Ben Bulben.