Bradley all too aware of Hoban’s hard edge at heart of Derry attack
AS manager of Shamrock Rovers, Stephen Bradley has watched Patrick Hoban bully, bark and bite at defenders, relentlessly.
There were times when Hoban’s raw aggression didn’t endear itself to Bradley but he has always admired the striker’s willingness to fight for every cause, and his eye for goal. Lots of goals.
In the close season, Bradley got to see a different side of Hoban which he revealed ahead of tonight’s duel between Rovers and Derry City in Tallaght where the player has pitched up after eight seasons at Dundalk in two spells.
‘I was up at his tribute night in the off-season and you got to see what a good man he (Hoban) was off the pitch. I didn’t know that side of him. We’ve never had a relationship, it was always player-manager in terms of opposition,’ said Bradley. ‘The proceeds of the function went to a few different charities, and cancer was one of them. The kid that was given support was in the bed next to Josh (Bradley), so it was incredible how it all worked out. ‘I spoke at the function but I didn’t know how much he (Hoban) does off the field and how much he supports different charities and different organisations around the country, mother and baby homes and stuff like that. ‘When players step on that pitch they are actors, that’s their stage, and nine times out of 10 he’s the villain.
‘It was just nice to see the other side of him. He came across as a really good man, a family man, and he hasn’t had it all straightforward in life.’
Bradley knows to expect the warrior side of Hoban tonight.
‘No matter what people feel about him as a player or whatever, you cannot argue with the man’s record in this league. He is one of the best ever goalscorers and he still scores, he’s still dangerous.
‘People ask will he suit certain systems and certain styles of play? But he’ll just point to one thing and that’s his goals. No one who watches football can argue that.’
After a record 150 goals in 294 games for Dundalk, Hoban has bagged two goals in three games since signing for Derry City in the close season.
His equaliser against St Pat’s on Friday was typical of his strengths and sheer will to win, as he muscled a window of space at a corner and directed his header to the net.
The goal ignited the Brandywell and Derry pressed on to plunder a stoppage-time winner to go six points clear of the champions.
Due to the snow in Dublin on Friday, Rovers have had a free weekend while Derry have to travel, but nothing is guaranteed and the Candystripes will take heart from winning in Tallaght at this stage last season.
‘People always feel when you have a break you’re fresher but that’s not usually the case for us. We’re usually at our best when you’re in the moment of having games and you’re in the flow — they’ll have that momentum and they’ll be on a high after winning,’ said Bradley.
Rovers won’t want to fall nine points adrift of Derry, even though the season is still finding its feet, and midfielder Richie Towell knows how important it is for the champions to stand firm.
‘When it comes to Pat’s, Derry, teams that are going to be around you, you definitely want to take points off them, put a marker down. It was something that we did last year really wehen we went up to the Brandywell and beat them. You can definitely call it a six-pointer,’ Towell remarked.
As for a six-shooter, Derry have Hoban and his holster, ready to take aim and fire. And if he’s the villain of the piece again, a kind of modern-day Lee Van Cleef, no one in the red and white camp will care.
For them, it is all about bridging that 27-year gap between titles. Whatever it takes.