The collapse of move to Burnley was Moorthan a little Turf to take then
FINN REFLECTS ON HIS CLARETS NEAR MISS
WATCHING Burnley inflict untold damage on Liverpool’s title hopes, Ronan Finn may have wondered what might have been.
The Clarets were riding high in the Championship when they courted the midfielder back in the winter of 2013.
Just four months later, they went on to secure Premier League promotion but Finn wasn’t around to experience it.
Then 26, and in his first spell with Shamrock Rovers, he got permission to spend three weeks with Sean Dyche’s team and a deal appeared to be close.
He was in the dressing room before and after games but ultimately the move he wanted never materialised. Age was a
HAS A LOT OFFER.. Still in the mix with Rovers
factor, but so too was Burnley’s expected elevation to the top flight where a new list of multi-million pound targets would be required.
And the club hasn’t looked back with Dyche keeping them up for the next four seasons while Thursday’s shock win at Anfield serves them well to repeat the trick again.
Finn kicked on to become one of the most decorated players in the League of Ireland with four league titles and two FAI Cups.
“It feels like a lifetime ago,” said the Shamrock Rovers captain. “A lot has changed since then. It just didn’t materialise.
“I’ve been very lucky with the honours that I’ve won, and I’m very grateful for the people who helped me along the way to achieve that.”
But casting his mind back seven years, the 33-year-old admits he was gutted not to join Burnley at the time.
“I’d been over to a few clubs while I was at Sporting Fingal, but wasn’t sure if I wanted to go,” he explained.
“But the Burnley one did take a bit out of me psychologically, because it was so close. I was enjoying it, the people there, the squad there. It was a really good football club.
“But I got back into it (with Rovers) and it just rolled on. These things happen.
“I’ve had so many lows and when things aren’t going well I find it difficult to get over that.
“Burnley was a low point and it took me a bit of time to get over it, but playing for Rovers really helped because of the brilliant environment.”