Shamrock Rovers clinch title and four-in-a-row in style
AND ANOTHER ONE: Rovers’ Roberto Lopes celebrates winning the league at the full-time whistle. Pic: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne
Title number 21 is heading to Tallaght – replicating the four-in-row of the 1980s – after Shamrock Rovers struck twice in the last seven minutes as a packed Richmond Park.
Fans couldn’t wait for next Friday’s final home game against Sligo Rovers, understandably invading the pitch at full-time to acclaim their modern-day heroes.
Even a draw would have sufficed to keep St Pat’s at bay, based on goal difference but Aaron Greene’s deft header from a cross by fellow sub Dylan Watts two minutes after coming on cemented the trophy.
Another attacker introduced, Graham Burke, added the gloss in stoppage time by racing clear, rounding Dean Lyness and tapping home.
It was an easy finish to what was a difficult season, on and off the pitch, but seals the day with two games to spare. That it was their first away league win since June 5 illustrated the scenic route to this promised land.
When you possess the squad of Rovers’ pedigree at your disposal, managers are tempted to tinker but Stephen Bradley stuck with all the fit players who bulldozed past Drogheda United 5-0 last Sunday.
Trevor Clarke’s injury created a slot for captain Ronan Finn to be reinstated – a return that lasted only a half hour following a forceful but fair challenge from Jamie Lennon – but Graham Burke was kept in reserve following his return from suspension.
St Pat’s have an FAI Cup final to prepare for, an unashamed priority in the eyes of manager Jon Daly, influencing his decision to rest Chris Forrester.
The midfielder may be only 30 but has been immersed in frontline combat since his teens, predominantly over 300 times for the Saints, and was given a breather with the marquee game of the season beckoning in 15 days’ time.
All three of the newcomers were teenagers but Mason Melia was the standout name alongside Adam Murphy and Tommy Lonergan, for he became a record holder.
The Ireland Under-17 striker, at a youthful 16 years, one month and five days, is now the youngest Saints player to start a league game, grasping the accolade from teammate Sam Curtis.
He's got a great future ahead of him, with Manchester City keen to ensure it’s with them or one of their feeder clubs, but he was sharing the pitch with players living history.
As opposed to seven players who won medals throughout Rovers’ last four-in-a-row feat between 1983-1987, 10 of the current Hoops squad have been there throughout this period of dominance.
Seven of them were selected by Bradley to get this tilt over the line – Pico Lopes, Finn, Lee Grace, Gary O’Neill, Neil Farrugia and Rory Gaffney and Alan Mannus.
The other three, Sean Kavanagh, Watts and Greene would be sprung from the bench – with the latter supplying the previous glancing header to break the deadlock.
Mannus has now collected a remarkable six league medals, as he was part of the Michael O’Neill-led team that won back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011.
So too was Bradley, who goes level with Jim McLaughlin for winning five trophies at the helm. His success began with the 2019 FAI Cup but stringing four league crowns together marked a run not even the legend McLaughin would muster.
He left the club after his third league triumph, bequeathing player-manager Dermot Keely with the task of tacking on another before the post-Milltown gloom set in.
Bradley’s not one to stand still and while that’s been reflected in his desire to see this group of players add additional titles, he could decide that a new venture awaits.
As his recent comments testify, the boardroom politics that lurk in the background at Rovers haven’t eluded him. He has a dilemma to reconcile with, on whether the hassle is worth it.
Simultaneously, the links to the Lincoln City vacancy he rejected last year persist. His personal circumstances override everything.
In the meantime, there are celebrations to cherish. St Pat’s wanted to push Rovers all the way to the last week of the campaign for the inevitable confirmation and early forays suggested they’d test the proposition.
Kian Leavy has proven a revelation since returning to the Saints from Shelbourne in the summer window.
He scored the winner against Sligo Rovers on Monday and almost nabbed another peach after nine minutes by rampaging into the box, only being denied by the underside of the crossbar.
Rovers did have the ball in the net when Rory Gaffney scooped home on 21 minutes but he was adjudged to be offside when Richie Towell had unleashed a shot that was spilled by Dean Lyness.
The end-to-end fare subsided slightly in the second half until the subs altered the complexion. That’s what champions do, ominously for the pack whose chase lost legs when it counted.
D Lyness; S Curtis, J Redmond, D Norman, A Breslin; A Murphy (C Forrester 70), J Lennon (B McCormack 80) ; M Doyle (A Nolan 81), K Leavy, M Melia (C Carty 61); T Lonergan (J Mulraney 61).
A Mannus; D Cleary, R Lopes, L Grace; R Finn (S Kavanagh 32), G O’Neill, M Poom (D Watts 62), N Farrugia; R Towell, R Gaffney (A Greene 81); J Kenny (G Burke 62).
Neil Doyle
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