Bradley believes Cork City would have survived if Nash was boss earlier 

Head Coach Stephen Bradley. Pic: Nick Elliott/Inpho

Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley feels their FAI Cup final opponents wouldn’t be heading for the First Division if Ger Nash was in charge for the season.

Tim Clancy’s resignation was tendered in May with Cork City sitting one off the bottom but they sank further before rallying with a late Cup run.

Top against bottom renders the Hoops as hot favourites for a victory that would wrap up a first double for the club since 1987.

"I am sure all the talk is around us trying to do a double - where Cork finished and where we finished in the league,” Bradley admitted..

“All of that will be used and rightly so. We would do the same in their shoes but we don't need any other motivation about or understanding of what Cork are.

"I think if Ger had been there earlier, they would have survived quite comfortably because I think their squad is really strong.

“A lot of their young players are very good. Then you have Seáni Maguire and Ruairi Keating up front, as good as any strike partnership in the country.

"We are under no illusions what we are up against."

Unlike City, on a clear run to the final, Rovers must negotiate a Conference League game away to AEK Athens on Thursday. 

A quick turnaround may influence selection on Sunday.

"We had to change but we’ve always done that,” he explained about the rotation. “This Thursday and Sunday will be no different. Some players will get minutes because they need them, some will get less as we manage their loads and understand where we are in the season.

"Some players play better when playing every minute. Some don't, they need a bit of freshness. Sometimes we get it wrong, sometimes we get it right so it is about managing the balance."