BACK FINN GROOVE
Champions Rovers are ominously stringing the results together and skipper Ronan admits it’s because squad is pulling together as one
BY
RONAN FINN insists that no one player is bigger than the team as Shamrock Rovers’ bid for a hat-trick of league crowns gathers pace.
The Hoops head for The Showgrounds this evening to face Sligo Rovers on the back of five consecutive Premier wins that have taken them to within a point of leaders Derry City.
A bountiful April leaves Stephen Bradley’s side in good shape with Finn Harps, Sligo and Derry all visiting Tallaght Stadium in the opening fortnight of next month before May concludes with trips to UCD and Drogheda United and a home date with Shelbourne.
Bradley’s large squad has meant senior figures such as Dylan Watts, Sean Gannon, Aaron Greene, Danny Mandroiu, Richie Towell, Neil Farrugia and Chris Mccann have all spent time on the bench this season.
But Finn said: “The manager makes a decision and you respect it – you are only ever as strong as your bench.
“When you look at our bench last year and this season, I always think that it definitely wins you games.
“The lads who are on the bench could be disappointed not to be playing but they come on and affect the game.
“We saw Aaron Greene (inset) doing this a few weeks ago when he hit a brilliant winner at Shels. His impact was huge.
“It’s really a big plus for the club having such strength in depth and it’s something that we have built up in the last couple of years.”
The Candystripes’ fine start to the campaign and Rovers’ two defeats in the opening series of nine games has injected a welcome competitive element to the title race following Rovers’ unbeaten run to the 18-match 2020 season title and their emphatic success last year.
“It’s a long season and it took us just a few weeks to find our feet and get going,” admitted Finn. “But I still think there is more in us and the manager will drag it out of us. The last three games were really big. Had we dropped points against St Pat’s, Dundalk and Bohs then it might have been an issue.
“In fairness, Derry have been flying but we have brought the gap back down to one point when it was six.”
Sligo boss Liam Buckley expects the same competitive fare that produced the recent 2-2 draw in Tallaght Stadium.
“We had a tight encounter up in Tallaght and I have no doubt it will be the same again,” predicted Buckley. “Shamrock Rovers are a real good side, they are in good form but we have some great qualities ourselves.”
Sligo’s Max Mata missed last week’s win over Drogheda with a strain but is back in training while the Hoops welcome back Graham Burke.