Bradley continues to shape Shamrock Rovers squad

It was a busy week for Shamrock Rovers who confirmed another nine players for next season.  On Friday, the club announced that they had re-signed four of their talented teenagers who had all been part of their 2016 senior squad. 18-year-old players Sean Boyd, Trevor Clarke, Shane Hanney and James Doona all earned new deals as Rovers move to 52 week contracts with their players.

This followed on from earlier in the week when the Hoops re-signed defender David Webster, along with experienced midfield Dave McAllister joining and senior deals being handed to a trio of teenagers (see here) in Aaron Bolger (16), Dean Dillon (17) and Luke Kiely (17).

The Rovers squad are already back in the gym getting themselves prepared for the 2017 campaign to come as can be seen in the short video message from Hoops Sporting Director Stephen McPhail that was issued to Rovers fans by text during the week.

Macca wants a word https://t.co/aXmu53lLAe

— Shamrock Rovers F.C. (@ShamrockRovers) December 10, 2016

Hoops Head Coach Stephen Bradley said he was “delighted to get these signings done. It’s great that the young lads see their future here as they did have interest from elsewhere.”

Trevor Clarke in particular had clubs looking to take him across the Irish Sea but Rovers have held onto the 18-year-old who was a key part of the Hoops squad in 2016. He won the club’s Young Player of the Year award in a season where the Ireland under 19 international played in 33 competitive games for the Hoops in total.

“I am very excited about signing back for Rovers,” said Clarke. “It’s the only club I want to be at. I’m really enjoying my football.

“We’ve gotten stuck into a lot of gym work in the off-season so we’re all ready to hit the ground running come pre-season in January, I wasn’t expecting to be back this early but it is a great advantage to be back working for the new season.

The Hoops will hope that Sean Boyd can build on the promise that he showed on in 2016 when he scored seven goals from his 27 senior appearances. His standout of moment was scoring off the bench in his first Dublin derby against Bohs in mid-August at Tallaght Stadium.

“The buzz from that goal was great and I can’t wait to feel that buzz again,” said Boyd who underwent shoulder surgery in early November having had issues with a dislocated shoulder at times during the season.

Darren Dillon has taken on the role as Rovers’ Strength & Conditioning coach and James Doona is delighted with the new back room addition in Tallaght. 

“Darren Dillon’s training is up there with the best,” said Doona who made 12 senior appearances with Rovers this year, scoring in the FAI Cup. “He’ll have me in top shape in no time. I’m eager to get going and break into that squad, that’s my goal for this year. I love it here.”

Rovers Head Coach Stephen Bradley has worked with all of these players, including Shane Hanney, when he was managing the Hoops under 19 team.

“I’ve worked with Brads since I was about 16 so he’s had a massive impact on my career,” said Hanney who appeared ten times for Rovers this year.

“It’s good to be back this early. If you look at all the other clubs, there’s nobody doing the work we’re doing this early, so it’s a massive advantage that’s for sure.”

Bradley’s first signings were the highly capable quartet of Ryan Connolly, Paul Corry, Dan Devine and Roberto Lopes (see here), along with the capture of Darren Meenan from Dundalk.

Despite interest from Cork City, Rovers’ senior player of the year Simon Madden has also re-signed with Rovers, as Bradley is looking for a successful mix of experience and up and coming youth in his 2017 squad.

Confirmed departures from Rovers are Pat Cregg (St. Pat’s), Gary McCabe (Bray), Dave O’Connor (Limerick) and Rob Cornwall (Bohs), with Bradley confirming that his squad is still up to three weeks away from being complete.

“We should be able to make announcements very soon on goalkeepers and we’re still in the market for a striker. It was always the plan to get the squad done early as I see it being a massive advantage. We knew the players we wanted so that was a bonus, too.”