Shamrock Rovers coach Stephen Bradley was happy after his team pulled off a solid 4-1 win against Cork City on Monday night. This win comes just in time for their big Dublin derby against St Patrick’s Athletic on Friday. It was also a chance to smooth things over with national team coach Heimir Hallgrimsson, after a past disagreement. Now, it seems they’re on good terms, and Bradley’s more focused on what’s next. Hoops Boost with Hallgrimsson.
Bradley switched up his lineup, making six changes, but it didn’t affect the team’s rhythm. Aaron Greene, Josh Honohan, Roberto Lopes, and Jack Byrne, who started his first game of the season, all scored, making for an easy evening at Tallaght. Speaking about Hallgrimsson being there, Bradley said it’s important for the national coach to check out league games. “I think it’s good for him to see what’s going on. He probably saw things he liked and some he didn’t. But it’s crucial for the national team staff to engage with the league,” he told RTÉ Sport. Hoops Boost with Hallgrimsson.
This win marked the Rovers’ fifth victory in six matches, putting them level on points with second-placed St Pat’s. Bradley was pleased with the performance. “It was a great night. We scored four and could have had more,” he said. “With six changes, I thought the new guys stepped up really well.” He mentioned how things are different from last year when they had to rush players back from injury. “We have a healthy squad now, and that’s important. We want strong competition for spots, and we have that.”
Looking ahead to the derby, Bradley feels positive. “It should be a good match. Both teams are strong. It’ll be tough, but we’re ready to win,” he said. “We’re moving in the right direction. We’d like more points, but we’ll keep pushing. There’s more in this group.”
Cork City Needs to Step Up
On the flip side, Cork City manager Tim Clancy was frustrated with his team’s mistakes. Even with several injuries, he didn’t want to use that as an excuse. “We can’t focus on the players who are out. They aren’t available, so we have to work with what we’ve got,” he said, pointing out that conceding goals right before halftime was a big issue. “That’s two games in a row we’ve let in goals just before the break, and it changes the game for us.”
Clancy challenged his players directly. “We’ve lost three games in a row, and that’s not okay. It’s not hard to get players fired up. They’re playing for a big club. They should be proud, not feeling sorry for themselves,” he emphasized. “Cork City expects results, and the only way to turn this around is to work harder than the opponents. That’s the minimum. If you can’t do that, you shouldn’t expect to play for me.”
