Miele determined to end Rovers’ drought

BRANDON MIELE insists he would rather win the Premier Division than qualify for the Europa League group stages with Shamrock Rovers this season. The Hoops created history by becoming the first League of Ireland club to reach that phase of the competition in 2011, the same year they claimed back-to-back league titles under Michael O’Neill, but have failed to reach those same heights since. Barring a League Cup and Setanta Cup triumph in 2013, Rovers have not tasted any success and Miele is keen to put that right. The Tallaght native, 23, returned to Ireland from Newcastle United in 2014 and this is his fourth campaign with his hometown club. Miele is yet to win anything and while Europa League qualifying begins in July, his priority is domestic glory rather than the millions on offer for the club from Europe’s secondary competition. ‘I’d take winning the league, yes. Definitely, 100 per cent,’ he said. ‘That’s where the club needs to be — winning leagues and cups. And that’s where we want to take it.’ Rovers are five points adrift of leaders Cork City and face a severe test of their title credentials with games at home to Derry City tomorrow, away to the champions on Monday before a Dublin derby with St Patrick’s Athletic. ‘I don’t think that it’s too much [of a gap] as there are a lot of games still to be played,’ Miele added. ‘We play each other four times and I don’t think anybody will run away with the league this year.’