AIRTRICITY LEAGUE SOCCER – GARY SHAW INTERVIEW
Shaw terrifying defences for Rovers
By Daire Walsh
WITH four goals in his last five appearances, Kildare native Gary Shaw is really beginning to find his feet at Shamrock Rovers.
The former Newbridge Town star joined the south Dublin giants from Longford Town before the start of the current campaign, and in his side’s comprehensive 3-0 victory over Sligo Rovers in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division on 10 May, he claimed his first goal for the Hoops.
Goals in consecutive games against Midleton (in the FAI Cup), Finn Harps and St Patrick’s Athletic ensures that Shaw will return from the present mid-season break in a rich vein of form, and he has been pleased with the level of his performances since his comeback from a troublesome hamstring injury.
“I pulled my hamstring there, four games, five games into the season. I missed five or six games. Since I’ve come back, I’ve been involved in six and I’ve scored four. It’s been a good kind of return,” Shaw remarked.
“I worked harder when I was injured, just to get back fit and made sure I didn’t rush it back, and got myself right. It was good to get the goals, and important goals as well. I was delighted with that, and now we’re on the break obviously, and hopefully I can get a couple of more now when we go back.”
While Shaw has firmly established himself as a starter for Rovers in a three-pronged attack that also includes Dean Clarke and Brandon Miele, Naas’ Craig Hyland has also become a regular feature between the sticks for Pat Fenlon’s charges.
Shaw was full of praise for the part that Hyland has played for Rovers in their recent encounters – particularly last Friday week’s 2-0 triumph over St Patrick’s Athletic at Richmond Park.
“Especially on Friday [against St Pat’s], he [Hyland] was fantastic. He was coming for every ball, and he was just relieving all the pressure.”
“He’s taken his chance with both hands, and Barry Murphy, he played up until then and he’s a great keeper as well. He’ll be keeping Craig on his toes, and fair play to Craig, he dealt with the pressure well.”
20 June is set to be an important date in the calendar for Rovers, as they will discover their Europa League First Qualifying Round opponents. This competition has served them well in the past, and Shaw, who enjoyed a mid season break in Madrid last week, is looking forward to his maiden European campaign as a player.
“Yeah, that’s going to be good. I’ve never been involved obviously. It’ll be a nice thing to be involved in, going away and playing in Europe, and then coming back to Tallaght as well. It’ll be tough opposition, whoever you play.”
“It’s a good competition, so you never know. Rovers did it before, a couple of years back, and no one would have believed if you told them.”
Away from the field of play, it was revealed in recent weeks that influential Rovers midfielder Mikey Drennan was battling depression – and would be stepping away from the squad for a period of time.
Drennan has been spending time in his native Kilkenny most recently, and Shaw believes that the former Republic of Ireland U21 international has been extremely brave and courageous in the way that he has dealt with his off-field problems.
“I texted him [Drennan] before it all came out. I just wanted to send on a message to wish him well. I think most of the lads did. Just to send him a text, and wish him well, because it’s such a big thing. Not only in football, but in general, mental health is a big issue, and trying to address it is tough.”
“He spoke with the manager and told him that look, he just needs to step away, and he was extremely brave and courageous the way he’s done it, and he’s gone home. Be with the people who care about him the most, and that’s the important thing.”
Rovers are doing their best to keep on the heels of Dundalk and Cork City in his absence, however, and Shaw is now hoping that he can reach double figures for goals in 2016.
“Obviously I’ve got my own personal targets. When I first got there, I obviously wanted to get a place in the starting eleven. Then obviously scoring as many goals, I’d love to get to double figures.”
“Definitely, as a striker, you want to try to get to double figures, especially playing with Rovers. That would be a big thing for them. Their strikers getting into double figures. For me, definitely it’s a double figures target, and once I can get to 10, we’ll take from there and see where we’re fixed,” Shaw added.