PAYBACK TIME
Rovers looking to move step closer to title and hurt Euro hopes of derby foes
JUST like those rare athletes, or racehorses, who can win sprints and also stay the distance, Shamrock Rovers are poised to follow an 18-game titlewinning campaign with a 36-game one.
It’s no longer about if the Hoops will be crowned champions for a 19th time in the FAI Centenary Year, but when.
While the finishing post can’t be breasted tonight when Bohemians rock up in Tallaght (7.15), Rovers won’t lack any incentive to dent the Euro ambitions of their cross-city rivals.
Two defeats at the hands of the Gypsies, including a stinging loss in the Extra.ie FAI Cup, have revved up Rovers nicely.
‘The knocked us out of the Cup, and they beat us twice in Dalymount.
‘They are always massive games but they look after themselves,’ observed Aaron Greene, the Rovers striker.
‘I know Tallaght will be rocking on Monday and I can’t wait for it. They are the best games in the country. Ask both sets of players. They are unbelievable.
‘The atmosphere, even going over there (Dalymount) when there were no fans, it’s like going into the lion’s den and I love it.
‘There probably won’t be a ticket to be had in Tallaght. We just want to put in another good performance, especially after we got beaten by them twice. We got a bit of stick when we went there (Dalymount) but that’s part and parcel of football and I’m not going to cry about it.
‘Hopefully, we can show up on Monday and get three points and then it’s another four points to retain the title. All we can do is look after ourselves.’
Greene has heard the gripes about Rovers being ‘Covid champions’ but it doesn’t bother him.
‘People still criticise us after winning an 18-game season. You hear what people say but it doesn’t have in brackets ‘Covid title.’ It doesn’t have anything.
‘You still get a winners’ medal and I still handed it to my da after the season.
‘People always want to doubt us. We’ve had it numerous times since I’ve been here, but keep doubting us because we’ll just keep showing up.
‘I love it when people speak about us and call us vulnerable, beatable.
‘That’s cool. We are so far ahead of these teams pointswise but they keep talking about us.’
Greene bagged his sixth of the season as Rovers beat their namesakes from Sligo 2-0 on Friday night to extend their lead in the Premier Division to 12 points.
In truth, but for goalkeeper Ed McGinty and the woodwork, it could have been a far more emphatic scoreline.
Again, the Hoops had a wee score to settle – and it showed.
‘They (Sligo) came to Tallaght in May, won and walked off like they’d won the league. I’ll never forget it.
‘I’ve played for Sligo, so I know Shamrock Rovers is their biggest game of the season. But you don’t win leagues in June.
‘We wanted to show up on Friday as we knew if they beat us they would have been the only team to do it twice in Tallaght Stadium this year.
‘It was important for us to get that win and keep a clean sheet.’
With a maximum seven points needed, Rovers could be acclaimed as 2021 champions on Friday week, when they’re at home to Finn Harps.
That would leave them with a month to complete their remaining league fixtures before the Unite the Union Champions Cup, which is set for the end of November, with the final on December 4 at the Aviva.
“They are the best games in the country”
“Keep doubting us. We’ll keep showing up”
‘We will take part. We’ll look after that when it comes around,’ said manager Stephen Bradley. ‘Everything is focused on Bohs. We have a league to win.
‘Right now, it’s about winning this league and driving it home, and we have a chance to extend that lead again on Monday.’
A plus for Rovers tonight is the availability of Irish striker Graham Burke after a calf injury.
Also to their advantage is a Rovers-only crowd of just under 4,000. Bohs will know they’re in a bear pit.