The Toast of Tallaght
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On 2fm last Saturday afternoon a song was sarcastically dedicated to Shamrock Rovers. As Coolio’s Gangsta’s Paradise blasted out of my tinny car speakers and the laughter subsided, the irony of the song choice was not lost on me.
Some Rovers fans might say it was Bohs that are the gangsters anyway, but the main point I’m getting at here is that the Hoops have done things the right way and now they are reaping the awards.
While winning the league on goal difference was probably not how they really wanted to pick up their first title in 16 years (particularly since I had a substantial bit hinging on a Rovers win!), it was still a pretty sweet way to deny their arch-rivals and end over a decade which had more ups and downs than an Alton Towers rollercoaster.
Of course there is the prize money now for Michael O’Neill to play with but possibly the biggest bonus is the coveted Champions League place. Real Madrid and Juventus have already come to Tallaght and though Rovers won’t be meeting any side of such a high standard in their first round – there is a strong possibility that they could draw a couple of sell-out crowds at Tallaght if things go their way.
Admittedly, my first trip to the south Dublin ground was last month’s FAI Cup semi-final but to say I was impressed would be an understatement. Undoubtedly, this is the best in terms of facilities that the league has to offer and for a time it felt like I was at a second-tier game in England.
It was refreshing. To walk to a packed stadium and feel so far away from the quietly hushed streets near Tolka Park or Terryland Park was quite a nice experience. Why? Because it felt like the league mattered more than what most give it credit for.
Overall Rovers, despite their almost calamitous results in THAT blip, were by far the best side in the league throughout the year. Bohs ran them close and it was archetypal Pat Fenlon to keep his side charged and their powerful end to the season, despite the shock defeat to Galway, meant this was one of the most exciting league run-ins anywhere in the world in 2010.
This is what makes the league so entertaining though, its unpredictability is a terrific tool in the box and its unique charm is the possibility to surprise us over and over again. Just take a look at the second last week of the season. While Galway’s 3-2 win against Bohs was already mentioned, the other two sides in the Tribe county also pulled off two shock wins – and if you were a betting man you could have had 1000/1 for that to happen.
You don’t just get that in other countries and despite the begrudgers – see last Saturday’s notoriously poor phone-in on Today FM for a typical example – this is a league we can actually be proud of.
Some Rovers fans might say it was Bohs that are the gangsters anyway, but the main point I’m getting at here is that the Hoops have done things the right way and now they are reaping the awards.
While winning the league on goal difference was probably not how they really wanted to pick up their first title in 16 years (particularly since I had a substantial bit hinging on a Rovers win!), it was still a pretty sweet way to deny their arch-rivals and end over a decade which had more ups and downs than an Alton Towers rollercoaster.
Of course there is the prize money now for Michael O’Neill to play with but possibly the biggest bonus is the coveted Champions League place. Real Madrid and Juventus have already come to Tallaght and though Rovers won’t be meeting any side of such a high standard in their first round – there is a strong possibility that they could draw a couple of sell-out crowds at Tallaght if things go their way.
Admittedly, my first trip to the south Dublin ground was last month’s FAI Cup semi-final but to say I was impressed would be an understatement. Undoubtedly, this is the best in terms of facilities that the league has to offer and for a time it felt like I was at a second-tier game in England.
It was refreshing. To walk to a packed stadium and feel so far away from the quietly hushed streets near Tolka Park or Terryland Park was quite a nice experience. Why? Because it felt like the league mattered more than what most give it credit for.
Overall Rovers, despite their almost calamitous results in THAT blip, were by far the best side in the league throughout the year. Bohs ran them close and it was archetypal Pat Fenlon to keep his side charged and their powerful end to the season, despite the shock defeat to Galway, meant this was one of the most exciting league run-ins anywhere in the world in 2010.
This is what makes the league so entertaining though, its unpredictability is a terrific tool in the box and its unique charm is the possibility to surprise us over and over again. Just take a look at the second last week of the season. While Galway’s 3-2 win against Bohs was already mentioned, the other two sides in the Tribe county also pulled off two shock wins – and if you were a betting man you could have had 1000/1 for that to happen.
You don’t just get that in other countries and despite the begrudgers – see last Saturday’s notoriously poor phone-in on Today FM for a typical example – this is a league we can actually be proud of.
About Alan Smith
Alan Smith works as a sub-editor for the Guardian newspaper in London. Originally from Cork, he freelances for several other newspapers and websites. Follow him on twitter @alansmith90. View Full Profile