Barrett excited by Rovers revolution
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Graham Barrett has revealed that he is excited by the current era at Shamrock Rovers and hopes that it can end with silverware.
The Hoops are currently on a 17-game unbeaten run, which has elevated them to within a single point of Premier Division leaders Bohemians.
Barrett, who recently joined the club on a short-term deal, thinks that there is enough quality in the Rovers squad to push their Dublin rivals all the way for the title, but it won’t be easy to overtake them.
Having linked up with his hometown team, the 27-year-old is looking towards the future as he believes that the club are moving in the right direction both on and off the pitch.
“Michael (O’Neill) is trying to build something with Shamrock Rovers,” said Barrett.
“His mentality is that you work hard for every game and see where that brings you. He thinks that we are capable of going all the way and pushing for the title, but it won’t be easy.
“I knew Michael through John Hughes at Falkirk and Derek Innes at St Johnstone, so I was aware of what he was doing at Brechin and knew what he did as a player.
“I don’t think it should be underestimated how well he has done with Shamrock Rovers already this year. Not only with the results on the pitch, but behind the scenes his influence on the club has been a massive success.”
Whether he is aware of it or not, there is a certain amount of pressure on Barrett as he arrives at the Tallaght Stadium having won 7 caps for Ireland and played for clubs like Arsenal, Coventry City, and Falkirk.
For the striker though, he is just happy to have the chance to play regular football again and is eager to put the memories of lost time behind him.
“I had a bad injury. It has been well documented about whether I can ever fully recover from that injury. I think a lot of questions will be answered in the next few months,” he explained.
“I had a good time in Scotland, but the main thing is that I can still play football.
“This is pre-season time for me at the moment, so I’m trying to catch up with the other players. I’ve come on as a substitute a few times, so it up to me now to show that my attitude is right and that I work hard when given the chance.”
The Hoops are currently on a 17-game unbeaten run, which has elevated them to within a single point of Premier Division leaders Bohemians.
Barrett, who recently joined the club on a short-term deal, thinks that there is enough quality in the Rovers squad to push their Dublin rivals all the way for the title, but it won’t be easy to overtake them.
Having linked up with his hometown team, the 27-year-old is looking towards the future as he believes that the club are moving in the right direction both on and off the pitch.
“Michael (O’Neill) is trying to build something with Shamrock Rovers,” said Barrett.
“His mentality is that you work hard for every game and see where that brings you. He thinks that we are capable of going all the way and pushing for the title, but it won’t be easy.
“I knew Michael through John Hughes at Falkirk and Derek Innes at St Johnstone, so I was aware of what he was doing at Brechin and knew what he did as a player.
“I don’t think it should be underestimated how well he has done with Shamrock Rovers already this year. Not only with the results on the pitch, but behind the scenes his influence on the club has been a massive success.”
Whether he is aware of it or not, there is a certain amount of pressure on Barrett as he arrives at the Tallaght Stadium having won 7 caps for Ireland and played for clubs like Arsenal, Coventry City, and Falkirk.
For the striker though, he is just happy to have the chance to play regular football again and is eager to put the memories of lost time behind him.
“I had a bad injury. It has been well documented about whether I can ever fully recover from that injury. I think a lot of questions will be answered in the next few months,” he explained.
“I had a good time in Scotland, but the main thing is that I can still play football.
“This is pre-season time for me at the moment, so I’m trying to catch up with the other players. I’ve come on as a substitute a few times, so it up to me now to show that my attitude is right and that I work hard when given the chance.”
About Gareth Maher
Gareth Maher is an award-winning journalist who has covered domestic, international and women's football for the best part of a decade. Previously a columnist for the Irish Daily Mail and Football Editor for Setanta Sports, … View Full Profile