Tallaght derby date pressures will test direction of Bradley’s

THESE are interesting times in Irish club football. Double winners Cork City have built themselves up from scratch to become a big story locally and nationally. Dundalk, who are now under American ownership, are back on song.

Waterford have burst into the equation, with new investment reviving the area’s love for senior football.

And then there’s Shamrock Rovers who sit fourth after the first series of matches, a position that lies below the traditional target at a club that has won more trophies than any other.

There is a view that signs of an upturn around the league are tied in with the general economy, yet it is worth remembering that the Hoops were thriving when the recession was biting.

After their move to Tallaght in 2009, they collected league titles in 2010 and 2011 and made the Europa League group stages. Bookmakers were offering prices on the number of leagues Rovers would win in the next decade.

Well-documented mistakes were made. Michael O’Neill was allowed to leave too easily, and Stephen Kenny’s stay was short-lived. Trevor Croly and Pat Fenlon came and went before current manager Stephen Bradley (right, above) was handed the reins late in 2016.

Ahead of the visit of Bohemians to Tallaght this evening, the jury is out on their trajectory. This is an important year for the curve.

Rovers have fully embraced the League of Ireland’s increased responsibility in the area of underage football, with Damien Duff (right, below) a high-profile flag-bearer with his U-15 side and their early-morning training sessions.

They have also addressed other areas that clubs have rightly been accused of ignoring, with the development of a proper training facility in Roadstone part of offering an alternative to kids who wish to go overseas.

‘The project’ has been the subject of some derision from rival clubs, particularly when the first team suffers a bad day.

Their own players are conscious of it too.

Skipper Ronan Finn admitted as much before the seasonopener with Bohs, quipping that news of an emphatic win for an underage side would never soften the blow of a derby defeat.

Rovers did lose that game, and have tasted defeat in four out of their ten games so far this season including on their travels against the top three, Dundalk, Cork and Waterford.

Last term they did finish third, but they were a full 22 points behind Cork and their record of 13 losses actually exceeded that of a Galway team that was relegated.

If they are to push for honours this term, they will need to put together a lengthy unbeaten streak at some point. Another derby loss on their own patch tonight would be disastrous and raise questions about Bradley, although there is no real suggestion he is feeling the heat internally.

In the past, Rovers fans have been harsh on managers, yet they have been quite measured in response to disappointments over the past12months.

The team were given a warm ovation from travelling fans