Graham Burke on semi escape: 'It was probably the worst thing I’ve done on a football pitch'
Graham Burke of Shamrock Rovers during the UEFA Conference League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between AEK Athens and Shamrock Rovers at AEK Arena in Athens, Greece. Photo by INTIME Sports/Sportsfile
From a split-second of madness, Graham Burke realises all his season’s work could – and should – have been tarnished.
Paul McLaughlin’s leniency in not showing the Shamrock Rovers talisman a red card for slam-dunking Joe Adams extracted a furious streak from in the usually serene Kerry manager Colin Healy, who branded the act as “violent conduct”.
Rovers were leading their FAI Cup semi-final by two goals at that stage.
After Burke was dragged back by his manager Stephen Bradley, his booked dangerman was dragged off the pitch at half-time for his own protection.
Despite Bradley defending his player following the 6-1 triumph, Burke was racked with guilt and regret when he absorbed the incident.
Burke’s performance in the season Rovers reclaimed their title and navigated a third Conference League progression in four years has elevated him onto a three-man list for LOI Player of the Year.
The contest with Michael Duffy and Dawson Devoy may be settled by his influence on today’s FAI Cup final at Lansdowne Road.
Records are on the line too.
A first Rovers double since 1987 is within grasp while, on a personal level, a goal would make Burke the first player since Charlie Ferry in 1974 to score in every round.
All of those appetising accolades heightens the relief Burke feels about being able to walk out onto the pitch with his six-year-old daughter Posie.
“It was probably the worst thing I’ve done on a football pitch and it ate away with me for a few days,” confesses the 32-year-old attacker, who won three Ireland caps in 2018.
“You know how I can have a moment of madness in me.
“I thought I’d flipped the page on that. It was a split second and I didn’t have time to control my emotions. I felt someone was coming to hurt me with a bad tackle.
“To me, it was a push and didn’t seem too bad but when I saw the clip back at home it was my whole body weight and it lifted him.
“I was getting messages saying I was very lucky. I realised afterwards that I was lucky.
“I’d been sent off (before) but went home and got over it. This one sat with me for a couple days because of what was at stake in the whole lead-up up the semi-final.”
Two Cup finals in 2019 and 2020 brought a victory and defeat apiece, the latter in an empty Lansdowne Road due to Covid-19.
Burke is aware of how close he was to being a bystander sitting on the bench; the significance of his blemish.
“I didn’t have kids for my previous final in 2019 so I wanted that moment walking out onto the Aviva with my kids. I nearly took that moment away from me.
“Paul (McLaughlin) handled the situation very well by taking his time to assess it.
“Sometimes the referees have the card out before you get up off the ground.
“He calmed the whole situation by concluding that he made a bad tackle and I had a moment of madness, so give them a yellow each.
“It was a bad look on my part. I realised what I lost in terms of family coming to watch me and kids walking out on the pitch.
“Moments like last Saturday, walking out on the pitch with your kids after winning the league, are memories that live with you forever.
“To have that moment walking out at the Aviva removed would have been taken away from the season.”
Burke was taken off at half-time on Thursday after firing Rovers ahead from the penalty spot in the 1-1 Conference draw at AEK Athens.
That was with the final in mind. Bradley will unleash his artillery to ensure this meeting between the sides that finished top and bottom of the table doesn’t conclude with an upset.
Burke was a teammate of Jack Grealish in Aston Villa’s youths and returned to England in 2018 when Preston North End shelled out €250,000 to Rovers.
A combination of factors convinced him to make a Tallaght return – a decision he brands as the “best of his career”.
“I’d love to finish my career here,” added Burke.
“I’ve a year left on my contract. I’m 32 and that’ll bring up to nearly 34. I’d love to stay at this club - as long as they want me.”
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