With Bradley unsure of Westwood move, Shamrock Rovers run rule over Moldovan Maxim Railean

Macdara Ferris report from Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers are continuing in their quest to sign a goalkeeper with Alan Mannus ruled out till June at the earliest. They are looking at the option of bringing in former Moldovan underage international keeper Maxim Railean.

Hoops Head Coach Stephen Bradley confirmed on Friday that he is still hopeful of signing Republic of Ireland Kieren Westwood (38) but that they are also looking at 23-year-old Max Railean.

“Kieren is still there,” said Bradley when speaking about the options he is looking at. “There is stuff in England that Kieren needs to look at. I'm hopeful but not sure where it will go.”

Westwood played 21 times at senior level for Ireland, with his most recent spell in club football ending with Queens Park Rangers last season.

Four-in-a-row

On Friday night ahead of kick off in Rovers’ 2-1 loss to Drogheda United, Railean was on the pitch working with the Hoops goalkeeping team. Leon Pohls continued in goal starting his fourth game in a row in the absence of 41-year-old Mannus with Rovers’ under-19 goalkeeper Toms Leitis named on the bench.

“Max has been training with us,” said Bradley about the Moldovan player who was set to start in goal in a friendly for Rovers’ under-19 team in Roadstone over the weekend. “He has been playing and living in Germany. He was in with us last year and we kept in touch with him. He has been in training with us. He is out of contract since January which is what we need.”

The goalkeeper has limited first team experience having played a dozen or so Moldovan Super Liga matches for Sfintul Gheorghe, with his most recent appearance coming in May 2022 when he started away against Sheriff.

Disappointing defeat to Drogs

Reflecting on Friday’s defeat to Drogheda United, their first league loss in 14 matches, Bradley was disappointed with his team’s defending and finishing. The Hoops dominated the game with Wysout noting the possession as 74% (the most of any game they have played this season), with 11 shots on target from 28 taken (compared with Drogheda’s three from eight).

“We had 28 shots and one goal. If you are not ruthless in both boxes you don't deserve to win games. We weren't ruthless in our attacking or defending. Drogheda got three opportunities and they scored two.

“We knew exactly how they were going to play. Our defensive decisions were really poor all night and they punished us. They always play like that here. Their centre forward (Freddie Draper who got the opener) has over 60% of their goals and he is involved in everything. We spoke about it and watched it on video.

“Their keeper (Colin McCabe) made one or two saves and they had players throwing their bodies on the line so fair play to them. We need to be better than that in the box.

“A lot of the performance was really good and a lot of the play was excellent. Between both boxes it was very good. At times we played with really good tempo and pulled them around the pitch and created opportunities.”

“We had free headers from Pico (Lopes), Lee (Grace) and Sean (Hoare). On other nights we put them in but we were miles away from our levels in both boxes.”

Next up for Rovers is a trip away against Cork City on Friday night.

No tourist trip to Tallaght for Kevin Doherty as Drogs’ “brilliant performance” earns three points and his best win in management https://t.co/w4qj4MM36Upic.twitter.com/qn1in9SlZl

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) May 20, 2023