Bradley and Rovers in a good spot ahead of Sunday showdown
AMID the snoods, masks and bobble hats at Kingswood yesterday, there was a calmness in the wintry air, a sense of men at work, which Shamrock Rovers were.
The Extra.ie FAI Cup media engagements for boss Stephen Bradley and players, Jack Byrne and Joey O’Brien, kicked off on schedule at 9.15am.
Not that there was any panic. It wasn’t like Rovers had a plane to catch, or a Europa League tie to fulfil in Norway, like Dundalk.
Instead, the Hoops have had a stress-free week to prepare for the defence of the FAI Cup, which comes with two festive fondant fancies. The first is the chance to complete their first League-Cup double since 1987; the second is to become the first Rovers team to go through a domestic season unbeaten since the four Fs of Fullam, Farrell, Fagan and Flood led the line for the 1925 ‘Invincibles.’
That all these boxes could be ticked off in the final of the 100th
FAI Cup, a competition synonymous with the Rovers sobriquet as ‘Cup Kings’, only adds to the anticipation.
What a wretched shame there can’t be 30,000 fans, or more, at Aviva Stadium on Sunday to witness this sporting spectacle.
A year ago, Dundalk were chasing the double, only for Rovers to puncture their balloon on penalties in the final. This time, the roles are reversed.
After skipping through team news — Greg Bolger is available, Aaron Greene (ankle) should be fine, Neil Farrugia (hamstring) is touch and go — Bradley was asked if Dundalk’s preparation was playing into Rovers hands. ‘No. They will be ready,’ he replied. ‘When you have that schedule as a manager sometimes it gives you a great opportunity to try things, little details that you are looking for down the road. We have done that on quite a few occasions.
‘I feel playing games regularly is the way to go. You get a rhythm.’
There is a professional respect between the two camps, which Bradley acknowledged.
‘They’ve proven themselves to be the top team in the country for the last seven years, eight years. You want to play against the best... so they’re definitely that.’
Bradley added: ‘It’s a showpiece game of the year; it’s the two best teams going head to head. Last year was a really good game, really tight and I think this year will be no different. If you look at it, history tells you that the bigger the game, the better we are. I think we saw that in the Cup final last year and with AC Milan.
‘The players show up and to be fair to them (Dundalk), they’ve shown that as well. They show up in big games, big occasions, I don’t think there’s any fear of big players not showing up.’
If Bradley is right, don’t rule out the prospect of penalties settling matters for the fifth time at the Aviva since 2010.
Cup finals invariably see heroes emerge from the shadows and within the ranks of Rovers’ five full internationals and a couple of U21s, much responsibility has been thrust on Aaron McEneff’s shoulders in central midfield.
If Byrne and Dylan Watts are to dazzle, they need someone who can load the bullets for them to fire and McEneff has assumed that role in the absence of Bolger. ‘Aaron’s maturity, all round knowledge and game understanding is there for everyone to see from last summer, it has matured him,’ said Bradley.
‘I don’t say it lightly but he is the best all-round midfielder in the country. Sunday is another chance to show that.’
Media duties done, it was time for Bradley and Co to do some video analysis, presumably of Sunday’s opponents. The preparation of Rovers couldn’t be going any smoother. And that could make all the difference.