Graham Burke looking for 90 minute Hoops performance

Graham Burke celebrates his goal against UCD in February

Graham Burke celebrates his goal against UCD in February Credit: Peter Fitzpatrick (ETPhotos)

Macdara Ferris reports from Roadstone Sports Club

Shamrock Rovers come into Friday night’s game with Sligo Rovers sitting fourth in the table. At home, the Hoops have been imperious – winning three from three – but on their travels from Tallaght they have failed to win a match.

Last Monday’s scoreless draw in Dundalk was their first point won away from home in 2022. Rovers have performed well only in parts according to Graham Burke and the Hoops are focused on picking up all three points on Friday in front of what will be another large crowd in Dublin 24.

“There will be a good crowd in Tallaght and we want to give them something to cheer,” said Burke when he spoke to the media including extratime.com on the eve of Friday’s home game against Sligo Rovers.

“We want to put in a performance ourselves because in certain games we put in a half. We need to put a full 90 minutes together.”

Having been hit with injury and COVID-19 during pre-season, Burke hopes that he is finally hitting the ground running with his fitness now that the season is six games in.

“I got Covid on the first day of pre-season and I did something to my hamstring. As I was coming back from that I had a quad (injury). I don’t know if it was the effects of Covid or it was just the body at that time as I had a couple of injuries last year but I missed the first three to four weeks of pre-season. 

“The lads were all flying around and I was finding it difficult to breathe. I knew I’d have to be patient to build up my minutes as they came because training was starting to change. 

“We were going into a normal season so it wasn’t as tough as pre-season. I had to do extra myself to build my fitness up with the minutes I’d play. I got back and played 60 against Bray (in a friendly) just before the President’s Cup, so I was miles off the rest of the lads in terms of fitness and game time.”

Burke came off the bench in each of the first five games of the season – scoring twice in Tallaght - first in the 3-0 home over UCD on the opening night of the league campaign and then in the 3-1 victory against Drogheda United.



He made his first start of the season in last week’s 1-0 win in Tallaght over Bohemians – playing 70 minutes – and got 76 minutes in Dundalk.

“So I’ve just obviously been building up the minutes as the season has progressed. 

I’ve started the last two and I feel ok where the body is at and where my fitness levels are now.

“It’s always nice to come on and get a couple of goals. That’s something I pride myself on, trying to score as many goals as I possibly can. To come on and contribute by scoring and get yourself into that routine again of playing was great.”

Stephen Bradley has a wealth of attacking talent to choose from and went without an out and out number nine in last Monday’s scoreless draw away to Dundalk where Burke, Jack Byrne and Danny Mandroiu all started.

So where does the Hoops Head Coach think is his best position. “Definitely anywhere central,” said Bradley about his Ireland international. “You play him anywhere central, as a centre forward he did that for Aston Villa in their youth team, he's done it for us, he’s played as a 10, and he’s played in midfield but once it's central he affects games. 

“Graham has missed four weeks but the more games he gets the better he will be. We are looking at the end of next month before we see him fully in his stride.”

Burke enjoys the fluidity in Rovers play and in his position in the team. “With the players we have nobody is really bogged down to that one position. Jack (Byrne) can play 10 and up front; I can play a 10 and up front;Danny (Mandriou) is the same, Dylan (Watts) can play deep or Richie (Towell). Everyone can move around and fit into the system we play.”

The 28-year-old player admits that this Friday’s game against Sligo is an important game, particularly with how the early season has gone - just four points separating the top five sides.

“With how the league is situated with everyone so close, it is a big game. Sligo have had a good start to the season so we have to perform. Teams have got stronger (this season).

“Pats with Tim (Clancy) coming in, they look really good and looked really good in the President's Cup. We played Derry who were very good. Dundalk were decent and caused us a lot of problems in the first-half but we should have won the game in the second-half. 

“It’s still early this season. We don’t know what it will be like 10 games down the line. We’ll focus on the next challenge and that’s Sligo and retaining our title. It’s going to be a race till the end.”

    About Macdara Ferris

    Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl … View Full Profile