“We need to show that we’ve got the hunger and desire to go again”
Captain Finn calls on Hoops to withstand attempts to knock them off their perch
By Daire Walsh
THEY might be the bookies’ favourites to win the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division for a third season in succession, but that is currently the furthest thing from the minds of Ronan Finn and his Shamrock Rovers team-mates.
Having secured back-to-back top-flight crowns with 16 points to spare over nearest challengers St Patrick’s Athletic in 2021, Stephen Bradley’s side are once again viewed as the team to beat on the domestic club scene. Indeed, Finn found the net at the Tallaght Stadium last Friday as the Hoops secured the President’s Cup at the expense of their Inchicore rivals on penalties.
While he is aware of the expectation that greets defending champions, his focus for the time being is on a league opener against his former club UCD in Tallaght tomorrow night (kick-off 8pm).
“I just think the way the squad operates, you don’t try and aim too far ahead,” the Rovers captain explained.
“We want to get a good start, I think that’s always really important. Ultimately we’re the league champions.
“Naturally that’s the overall target, you defend your title. We’re building, we’re getting stronger. I’m sure we’ll have those discussions later, maybe as the weeks go by.
“We’ve got a strong squad to pick from and for us it’s just getting off to a good start and going from there,” he insisted.
In addition to Pat’s, there are a number of sides that Finn feels Rovers will have to watch out for this season.
His former team-mate Stephen O’Donnell has returned to Dundalk (where Finn himself won three major trophies) and he will of course be keeping a watchful eye on UCD’s form beyond their meeting with the Hoops.
The Students gained promotion from the First Division through the play-off system last November and though Rovers undoubtedly have the squad to potentially withstand any challenge they will face this year, Finn won’t be taking their early-season challenge lightly.
“I think if you look around the league there’s been a lot of change between managers, players and squads that will have been strengthened.
“Everyone wants to beat the league champions, that’s natural. We’ve got to show that we’ve got the hunger and desire to withstand that and go again.
“For a group that’s massive. That’s what we need. We just need to start well and show that we’ve got the hunger, desire and the fight to go again. To show that we’re not going anywhere,” he stressed.