Rovers’ Gaffney: We’re confident without big 10-pt lead, says Shamrock Rovers striker Rory Gaffney, who believes the team’s form and mindset would still be strong even if they weren’t sitting ten points clear at the top of the SSE Airtricity Premier Division. Gaffney made the comments after scoring both goals in their 2-0 win over Derry City on Sunday, a result that solidified Rovers’ control of the title race with just ten games to go.
Momentum and Mindset Driving Rovers Forward
Reflecting on a similar interview back in April after scoring the winner against Galway United, Gaffney said he would still be backing his team even without the current cushion. “We were ahead of the curve then. We’re ahead again,” he told RTÉ. “We’ve played 26 games, picked up 52 points—that’s two per game, which usually wins the league. If everyone started on zero points tomorrow, we’d still believe in ourselves. So with a ten-point head start and better goal difference, why wouldn’t we back ourselves?”
Eyes on the Title After Last Year’s Setback
Last year, Rovers’ dream of five consecutive titles slipped away during a difficult summer injury crisis. A late push wasn’t enough to catch Shelbourne, who won their first title in 18 years. But 2025 feels different. Stephen Bradley’s side is now firm favourites for a fifth crown in six years and their 22nd overall, while rivals like Derry have begun to drop points at a crucial time.
Gaffney Shines in Derry Win
Gaffney opened the scoring shortly after the break, converting a cross from Josh Honohan. His second was even more impressive—latching onto Dylan Watts’ pass, cutting inside the defender, and finishing off the far post. “It was a lovely ball,” Gaffney said. “I like to chop in. Maybe the defender hadn’t seen that before—he will next time.”
Battling Back From Injury
The 35-year-old missed nearly all of the 2024 season with injury and had doubts about whether he’d get back to top level. “My goal in January was just to prove I could stay fit,” he said. “I’ve only played one full game this year but haven’t missed a training session.” Gaffney praised the younger players pushing through, happy to pass the baton when needed to fresh legs off the bench.
European Challenge Up Next
Shamrock Rovers now prepare for the first leg of their Europa Conference League tie against Ballkani in Kosovo. “It’s a bit of a step into the unknown,” Gaffney admitted. “We’ve faced players from those regions before, and we know they’ll be strong. It’s good that it’s a grass pitch too. If we perform, we’ll give a strong account of ourselves. And if we bring them back to Tallaght, we’re confident against anyone.”
