ROVE & OUT

Hoops end Euro run on upbeat note

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SHAMROCK Rovers’ Conference League campaign came to an end with plenty of what-ifs to eat away at all involved as they scoff down their Christmas dinners next week.

But at least they finished up with a first league phase win, and an extra €400,000 to add to the €5m-plus already banked in this season’s European run.

They'll get another €500,000 from Lincoln City for Josh Honohan, whose transfer was confirmed hours before kickoff and who took to the pitch at halftime to bid farewell to the Hoops fans among the 5,810 in attendance.

‘As Stephen Bradley noted in extended programme notes, which included an emotional reference to his son Josh's cancer battle, that’s north of €20m in UEFA prize money won during his reign to date - staggering figures considering the paltry €150,000 for each of his five Premier Division title wins.

Writing in the programme, Bradley said: “Twas recently reminded of how much we are still punching above our weight when the AEK Athens Sporting Director asked me how much the prize money was for winning the League of Ireland.