Gritty show gives Russell positives to work with
NEXTUP
IT TURNS out that Sligo Rovers were involved in the title race. Monday’s stalemate at home against Derry City made the Bit O’Red the party-poopers – with the result from The Showgrounds starting the title party for Shamrock Rovers, whose nearest challengers were Derry.
It was a strange place for Rovers to be in, actually helping Shamrock Rovers to wrap up another title with two games to spare, but – from a Bit O’Red perspective – this was a second game in succession where the positives outweighed the negatives.
Kailin Barlow, 19, has furthered his progression and goalkeeper Richard Brush, a player who is twice the midfielder’s age, proved the value of having an experienced netminder in the squad.
Rovers boss John Russell was relatively happy with the 0-0 outcome against Derry, three days after an away draw at Casey’s Field in Dundalk. Derry’s bid to overhaul Shamrock Rovers may have ended tamely but they have been unbeaten in the Premier Division since a 2-1 loss at The Showgrounds on May 23 – that was John Russell’s first game at the helm, albeit as interim boss following Liam Buckley’s dismissal.
Russell said: “I think it was a fair result overall. I felt all the lads worked extremely hard – we had a good shape about us.
“We knew it was going to be a
(HOME)
ST PATRICK’S ATH
SLIGO Rovers’ final home game of the season is against fourth-placed St Patrick’s Athletic tomorrow, Friday (7.45pm), with the Dublin club looking to win so as to keep in touch with Dundalk in third.
Finishing fourth will suffice for St Pat’s in terms of qualifying for Europe but only if Derry City win the Extra. ie FAI Men’s Cup. If the Candystripes was beaten by Shelbourne then only the top three will play in UEFA competitions next year so St Pat’s anxiousness to pip Dundalk for third place is understandable.
Rovers have beaten St Pat’s (2-1, February), drawn with them (1-1,
May) and lost to the Super Saints (1-0, August) so anything could happen at The Showgrounds this week. Imagine the noise should Aidan Keena hit the 20-goal mark in front of the home fans.
difficult game against Derry, they’ve been unbeaten since we beat them back here in May, so it was going to be a tough ask.
“But we nearly nicked it at the end – Max [Mata] was unlucky at the back post and if that went in, it would have been a really good three points for us. But, overall, I’m very pleased with it, the way the lads performed.”
Derry boast talented players and
Russell was delighted with how his side competed with their north-west rivals, given the extensive injury list that Rovers have had to deal with. “They emptied the bench and put on some big hitters and I felt we defended really well. We had to make a couple of changes – the lads that came in did really well.
“We were always in the game and we although didn’t create a huge amount of chances but we probably created the best ones.”
The manager wants to see similar resilience when
Rovers take on St Patrick’s
Athletic at The Showgrounds tomorrow, Friday, night.
“We will be trying to win it – we’re not looking at the [Premier Division] table or worried about other teams.
“We’re just worried about performing ourselves, improving the group and trying to improve our style of play. For the next two games [against St Pat’s and Bohemians], we’re going to try to win them.”
With just the hosting of St Pat’s and an away game against Bohemians left, Russell is already planning for next season – how he can rebuild the first team squad, with anticipated comings and goings, and how he can turn Rovers into contenders.
“We want to finish the season strongly. Then we want to recruit players, keep them here and try to build something – that doesn’t happen overnight.
POISE: Rovers teenager Kailin Barlow in action against Derry City on Monday night. The midfielder has signed a contract extension until the end of the 2025 season.
“Sometimes you need a couple of transfer windows to gel players in and hopefully we’ll have a good off-season and we’ll come back strong in pre-season for next year.”
He continued: “I want to bring quality players to the club and over the coming weeks and months we’ll see some new faces.”
One of the players that fans will be hoping to see more of on the pitch is local midfielder Kailin Barlow, who, aside from breaking into the first
team after signing his first pro deal last November (a contract he has since extended until the end of the 2025 season), has also starred at U-19 level this year.
Russell, when discussing Barlow, said: “He’s a fabulous talent – it is great for the other academy players to see that pathway is there.
“He has got two starts now in-a-row, he’s improving all the time and he’s going to benefit from playing these matches.”