“This is the first opportunity of the season for silverware”
Finn hoping that Hoops can see off their new-look Dublin rivals, St Pat’s in President’s Cup
By Daire Walsh
FOLLOWING several weeks of putting in the hard yards at their training base in Roadstone, Shamrock Rovers captain Ronan Finn is thrilled to have a President’s Cup showdown against St Patrick’s Athletic to look forward to tomorrow evening (kick-off 8pm).
A clash between the defending Premier Division champions and FAI Cup holders, this will whet the appetite for the beginning of the new league season a week later.
The Hoops start their top-flight campaign at home to his former club UCD eight days from now, but there is only one game on Finn’s mind for the time being.
“Pre-season is always a tough time. We’ve worked hard and it’s great to have a match like this on the horizon. No doubt it will be a great crowd. We’re looking forward to it. We’ve worked hard as I said and an opportunity now for us to kick off the season, hopefully with a good result,” Finn acknowledged.
Following the departure of Finn’s ex-Rovers and Dundalk team-mate Stephen O’Donnell – who has returned to the County Louth outfit – Pat’s have a new face in their dugout for 2022.
Having cemented Drogheda United’s Premier Division status 12 months on from bagging promotion in the form of a second-tier title, Tim Clancy has assumed the managerial reins at Richmond Park.
He has drafted in Mark Doyle (his scorer-in-chief at Drogheda), goalkeeper Joseph Anang and Firhouse native Eoin Doyle to offset some high-profile exits out of Inchicore and Finn is expecting them to be up for the fight in Tallaght.
“They’ve a change of manager and they’ve got a fair few new signings in. I’m sure they’ll all want to be impressing the new manager. This is the first opportunity of the season for silverware. Not unlike us, we’ll be desperate for it as well.
“It makes for a good game and I’m sure the pitch in Tallaght will suit both sides. We’re looking forward to the game. Pre-season is tough work and it’s nice to have a match like this to look forward to.”
Of course, Hoops supremo Stephen Bradley was also busy in the transfer market with Jack Byrne’s return to the club announced at the tail end of last season.
A two-time Players’ Player and League Player of the Year, he will be hoping to add to the FAI Cup and Premier Division crowns he secured with Rovers in 2019 and 2020 respectively.
Republic of Ireland U21 international Andy Lyons has also joined from their arch rivals Bohemians and will be eager to make amends for a FAI Cup final reversal to Pat’s last November.
There is also the added bonus of having Richie Towell and Barry Cotter on board for the very start of the campaign, following their summer window signings in 2021.