Rovers project at senior level

following their losses, especially away to Waterford – where they played the bulk of the match with ten men – and last week’s reverse in Dundalk which was a story of goalkeeping mistakes by young Rovers netminder Kevin Horgan.

This is a continual problem for Bradley, who retained experienced goalkeeper Tomer Chencinski and then benched him for the opening day with Horgan preferred.

Unfortunately, Horgan was guilty of errors in that game and the Cork reverse before the Dundalk pain which came after Chencinski was recalled and then dropped again.

Rovers are making moves to bring in a safer proposition in the summer, yet the damage might already have been done.

Another pre-season error was allowing ex-Liverpool defender Daniel Cleary to be snapped up by Dundalk; he had been training with Rovers who were planning to sign him and then send him on loan. He was ready to come in and star for Dundalk straight away.

These things happen, of course, but it’s soft concessions that are undoing the good work at the other end of the field where the Hoops are attractive to watch on a going day.

With playmaker Graham Burke the key factor, and their own last-ditch signing Seán Kavanagh adding technical quality, they have taken 13 points from 15 in Tallaght and knocked six past Bray and Derry City.

Crowds have held up reasonably well, with the 2017 average of

2,800 an increase from 2,000 in

2016. It will be significantly larger tonight.

Bradley has insisted that talk of a title tilt is premature. He argued that John Caulfield and Stephen Kenny were not being asked about winning leagues in their second seasons in charge, when Caulfield actually challenged in his first year – Kenny won it after finishing second in his maiden campaign.

Granted, Cork and Dundalk have built up a bank of experience and funds from dominating for four successive years, but Rovers have a set-up and an ability to attract Dublin-based players that gives them scope to challenge.

They haven’t properly contended for a league since their last win in 2011, or lifted a trophy since 2013. Last year’s third place aligned with a run to the FAI Cup semi-finals could be described as progress. A repeat of last year would be harder to sell in the same way.

Tonight’s result could shape the mood for the rest of their season.