Donelon challenge sums up fighting spirit needed to secure our survival

WHEN you are fighting for something at the end of a season, there are moments that can either make or break your season.

Whether it’s a goal scored, conceded, disallowed, a stupid red card, a saved penalty, a referee wrongly awarding a decision, these are the things you talk about when the season ends and you look at what went for/against you.

Too often for Rovers this year it’s been a wonder goal scored against us or a referee’s incorrect decision that’s left us, and Ger Lyttle, reeling. While Vinny Faherty’s goal was what sealed the three points, it was that Regan Donelon tackle that stood out for many of us from that win against Bohs on Saturday night.

It could so easily have gone wrong. Rovers had missed so many gilt-edged opportunities to extend their lead and as has been the case on so many occasions this year, there was an air of inevitably about Dinny Corcoran playing in Ismahil Akinade in the late stages of the game.

That was it, we all thought. Akinade is always a threat, and seeing him look through on goal it just felt like that was the moment when our hopes were dashed and our hearts were broken. But the determination of Regan Donelon put an end to that chance. A perfectly timed tackle in the box, and the danger was averted. Donelon has been a stalwart of this Rovers

team in the last few years and too often he is the scapegoat for a bad performance.

On too many occasions, particularly earlier on in the season, he has been left exposed by players in front of him failing to track back.

But he has saved Rovers on so many occasions this year - I would love to know how many times I typed ‘a Regan Donelon goal-line clearance’ this season. Albeit, he has had his bad days. But there are players in the squad who have had more of those than the 21-year-old.

Few players should be immune from criticism this year, and while Donelon has been on the receiving end of a lot of abuse from the sidelines, he will be on the receiving end of a lot of plaudits for saving Rovers’ blushes on Saturday night.

Victory over Bohs was absolutely huge. We needed that so desperately and with such a huge crowd there, it was imperative that we came away with nothing less than three points.

It was frustrating that Bohs weren’t out of sight well before half-time, missed chances from John Russell and Daniel Kearns spring to mind, but we cannot be picky. Three points is three points and we will most certainly take that as we head into the final three games of the season.

Ger Lyttle has never been afraid to give young lads a chance and while starting young

Jack Keaney was a risk, it shows the faith that Ger has in his players, and that game on Saturday night will stand to Jack. He has never looked out of place with the senior team and he is incredibly comfortable and composed on the ball for someone of his age.

It’s a cliche that is used far too often but there are three cup finals left for Rovers. Three massive games. And while winning was a huge boost to our survival bid, the cat is most certainly not in the sack yet, as Giovanni Trapattoni would say. Everyone got carried away after the Finn Harps game, including a lot of players with their self congratulatory posts on social media. The noise when Rovers win is one thing, but the silence when we lose is deafening.

Social media can be so wonderful at times when you follow a local club, but you leave yourself open to criticism and abuse. Players have to be careful what and when they tweet after games, it can really annoy fans at times.

There was very little from players on the social media site after Saturday night’s win, which is a good indication. On too many occasions they, and ourselves the fans included, have got too carried away with wins against Shams, Cork, and Finn Harps in particular, and ended up with egg on our faces shortly afterwards.

They can get as carried away as they want if and when we are safe, but for now staying calm and focused is the main thing.