Alan Mannus claims outright clean sheet Shamrock Rovers record

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Credit: extratime.com

Shamrock Rovers’ first victory of the league campaign on Friday, a 4-0 win in Oriel Park, enabled Alan Mannus claim his club’s all-time all-competition clean sheet record.

The goalkeeper had equalled Alan O’Neill’s Hoops record of 120 clean sheets in the scoreless draw away to Shelbourne last month.

With the shut-out win in Dundalk on Friday, 40-year-old Mannus earned his 121st Rovers clean sheets in all competitions – and his 101st in the league.

Speaking to extratime.com, Hoops Head Coach Stephen Bradley spoke recently about his goalkeeper after Mannus equalled O’Neill’s record: “Over the years, across two stints at the club, he has been incredible.

"For him to equal that record is great and hopefully he'll have lots more clean sheets this season. It is an incredible achievement but it doesn't surprise you when you see how he lives his life, how professional he is and how focused he is.

“I'm sure it is a proud one for him and his family to look back on when he does hang up his gloves. It will be hard for anyone to break that record. We know he is a top keeper and probably the best in the country. We are lucky to have him.”

Mannus won two league titles in his first spell at the club under manager Michael O’Neill and has been instrumental in Rovers winning their recent three-in-a-row in the Bradley era.

Alan Mannus all competition / league statistics

Games played 263 / 209

Clean sheets 121 / 101



Goals conceded 181 / 134

Barry Murphy

The clean sheet against Shelbourne last month moved Mannus clear of Barry Murphy who earned 119 clean sheets. Murphy held Rovers’ league clean sheet record of 97 until Mannus beat it towards the end of last season.

Murphy played 215 League of Ireland games for the Hoops with 24 clean sheets of his 97 clean sheets coming from 36 appearances in Rovers’ First Division win in 2006. 

Murphy announced his retirement from the game in March and in an interview in Rovers’ Hoops Scene match programme said: “I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank the Rovers fans for all of their support down through the years.



“From sitting in the containers in Kiltipper (where Rovers underage teams played in the 2000s), I never thought I’d have the career I’ve had.

"From winning the league on that magical night in Cobh (First Division in 2006), to playing in the first match in Tallaght (in 2009), facing Real Madrid, winning a few trophies (Setanta Sports Cup, League Cup and Leinster Senior Cup), and the honour of winning three POTY awards (2006, 2013 and 2014) along the way.

“I’ll always cherish my time at the club.”

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