Quigley is back in the groove after sluggish return to Tallaght
NOTHING fuels the self-worth of strikers more than the sight of a bulging net, just as nothing gets under their skin like a run of games without a goal.
For Mark Quigley, either emotion would be preferable to the season of disruption he has experienced at Shamrock Rovers where he has started just one of 21 Premier Division games.
A catalogue of injuries, which began with a calf problem in pre-season, has seen Quigley, 27, shunted into the shadows and forced Rovers to recruit other attacking personnel such as Karl Sheppard and, most recently, Eamon Zayed.
Being out of sight and out of mind is not what Quigley imagined when he signed a two-year contract with the Hoops last November and was hailed as the heir apparent to the free-scoring Gary Twigg.
Asked to sum up his season so far, Quigley doesn’t duck. ‘It’s been a disaster, really,’ he said.
“I’ve only had two 90-minute games so far this season”
‘If you look at, I’ve started two games this season, and been a sub for five others. I’ve only had two 90 minute games all season, I just haven’t got going.
‘I’d a calf problem; then I pulled my hamstring twice. It was the same leg and it kept recurring. To be fair, I’ve trained solid for last three weeks.’
A goal against the St Patrick’s Athletic on Tuesday night in the EA Sports Cup, where he played almost 85 minutes, hinted that Quigley’s problems may finally be behind him.
‘I’m nicking a few goals now. Every time I start, I seem to get one, which is a good sign. I just need more starts. I need to get fit,’ he said.
With 12 league games to go, kicking off away to champions Sligo tonight, plus the FAI Cup and EA Sports Cup to play for, Quigley is targeting a similar finish to this campaign as he had last year at Sligo.
‘Last season, I think I started the last 15 games and did well. I’m looking for a mirror image of that again this season.
‘The aim is get into the team, get the confidence up, get the fans behind me and show what I can do.
‘I haven’t played at all this season but feel fitter now than before as I’ve had a block of three weeks training.
‘Hopefully, I can get into the team for the last 12 games this season, and score a few goals.’
Quigley’s last goal for Sligo will never be forgotten under Ben Bulben as his late penalty against St Pat’s clinched the title in front of 6,000 delirious fans.
He acknowledged the goal ‘mattered a lot’ and hopes to get a good reception from the Sligo fans, if selected.
‘I think every player that goes back to their former club wants to play. I’m no exception.
‘I came to Rovers to play in these games and hope I’m knocking on the manager’s door to play now.’
The Hoops are unbeaten in 16 games in all competitions but the next three Premier Division fixtures could decide their title fate.
They face trips to Sligo and Dundalk followed by a home against St Pat’s — three of the four teams above them in the table.
‘Everyone knows the draws are killing us but we are doing well. We’re eight points behind Pat’s and we need to keep kicking on and hope other teams slip up.
‘We need to pick points up off the teams around us,’ said Quigley.
‘The bigger the game, the more you want to be part of it. Saturday is a massive game.’