Stephen Bradley’s Shamrock Rovers tightened their grip on top spot in the Premier Division after a late winner against Finn Harps at Finn Park. Greg Bolger's 85th minute strike saw the league leaders extend their lead to seven points but they do hav
Stephen Bradley’s Shamrock Rovers tightened their grip on top spot in the Premier Division after a late winner against Finn Harps at Finn Park. Greg Bolger's 85th minute strike saw the league leaders extend their lead to seven points but they do have two games more played than those around them. Former West Ham United and Republic of Ireland International Joey O’Brien got his first taste of Finn Park and noted that it was a very difficult game. “We came up here and we knew it would be a difficult place to come, we just kept knocking on the door, hoping to open it and Greg (Bolger) popped up with a lovely strike,” he said. “He did well to keep it down and luckily for us, it went in,” he added. The game was starved of clear cut chances in both halves but O’Brien noted that one substitution changed the game and helped his side get further up the field. “We just needed to play our own style and just try and make chances. "The manager brought Joel(Coustrain) on and he was terrific, he really got us high up the pitch, forced them even further back and towards the back end of the second half they struggled to get out of their own box. “I think then it was a cross into the box, and it fell to Greg, high up the pitch and it was a great strike.” he added. O’Brien also spent a number of years of his career at English clubs Bolton Wanderers and Sheffield Wednesday and he noted that when he left West Ham, an injury saw him endure an extended spell on the sidelines. “Football has been my whole life, when I left West Ham, I got injured and for one reason or another, I couldn’t get over the injury,” he said. “As time passes by, you know the offers aren’t there anymore, I moved back home with my family and this club means alot to me, getting back involved last season and being around the lads and hoping to build something here at this football club, stuff with the academy and I wanted to be part of it on the playing field,” he added. The defender is enjoying his first taste of the SSE Airtricity League and says that the league is filled with some quality players. “There really is some smashing players here, as a kid, growing up, I used to go to games and when i was back home from England in the summer with the way the league works over here, summer football so there was always games to go and watch.” “There is always some really good players, as proven with Saturday night with the Ireland game. “You will see alot of lads that have played at this level,” he concluded.
