'ROCK SOLID

Hoops boss a shining light in Irish football

- pat dolan

JUST how good is Stephen Bradley? He is right to talk about the League of Ireland being the shining light of Irish football because he knows shining lights. He is one.

However in football management youve always got to look for more. The next five weeks are massive.

The League is wrapped up, but one thing Bradley has not achieved in his epic spell as Rovers boss is a League and Cup double.

Of course Kerry FC might not be as easy as lazy pundits are predicting because they've been the surprise of the competition so far under the brilliant Colin Healy.

It would be a massive upset if the Hoops aren't in the Aviva on No-yember 9. People forget that Stephen Bradley was an absolutely brilliant young player, who got lost after a dream move to Arsenal.

He has used that disappointment to make sure that as a manager he's learnt how to treat players and get the very best out of everyone.

How ironic that some of the Irish media have focused on Bradley not because of his extraordinary trophy haul but because Johnny Sexton wanted to meet and learn from him this week.

Well done Johnny. We can all learn from Stephen Bradley.

When Stephen Kenny saw his turbulent Irish reign come to a tragic end, Stephen Bradley was not even in the conversation to replace him, even though he should have been the only choice.

Yes, there is always pressure managing the Men’s Irish International team but there’ also a unique and monumental pressure in managing Shamrock Rovers.