Shamrock Rovers Head Coach Stephen Bradley cut a satisfied figure at the Tallaght Stadium in the wake of his side’s comprehensive 3-0 win over Cork City. “I thought we were excellent. I thought we moved the ball really well – created some chances,
Shamrock Rovers Head Coach Stephen Bradley cut a satisfied figure at the Tallaght Stadium in the wake of his side’s comprehensive 3-0 win over Cork City.
“I thought we were excellent. I thought we moved the ball really well – created some chances, obviously scored three and didn’t concede. So, all round I think we were very good.”
For the 21st time in 36 league games during the 2019 campaign, Rovers’ netminder Alan Mannus’ goalline remained unblemished and the big Canadian born keeper showed his class with an outstanding second-half save to deny City’s Eoghan Stokes.
“We’re broken our own record of clean sheets which is what we wanted to do as one of our targets at the beginning of the season,” purred Bradley. “Can we break our own record and we’ve done that.”
Rovers won 23 of the 36 league games, another stat that pleased Bradley. “We’ve equalled the most wins that the club has had.”
At the end of his third full season at the helm in the Tallaght Stadium, former Arsenal player Bradley can understandably reflect with satisfaction on his most successful campaign to date in the hot seat.
“We set our own targets. We’ve done it this year. It just wasn’t enough in the league. Dundalk had an incredible run. We’ve done really well.”
The three-goal romp against the 2017 league champions sets Rovers up nicely for a first FAI Cup final since 2010, a match Bradley himself played in. “It’s brilliant, it’s a proud moment for me to bring this special club back to the Aviva,” Bradley said of the November 3rd clash with Cup holders Dundalk.
“But that’s where this club belongs, it belongs in cup finals and it belongs at the top of the table. We’ll go there to win the game. We’re fully focussed on winning the game.”
