Tickets are still available for our first UEFA Conference League Phase tie. Last chance to purchase the three-match ticket package. The match coverage is on Premier Sports.

Stephen Bradley gave his pre match views to shamrockrovers.ie:

It was a disappointing last outing for the team on Friday, losing 0-3 to St Patrick’s Athletic at home. Having watched it back, are there key moments that allowed the game to get away from us or was it just a bad night at the office?

“I think it’s a bit of both. I think the early goal in the opening gave Pat’s real momentum. Looking back at the time, I felt Pat’s were fresher than us on the night. We looked off it and a little bit tired and leggy and Pat’s looked fresh not having had the schedule we’ve had. That sometimes happens so it was nearly the perfect storm for them.”

You mentioned after the game, on reflection, that you might have made more changes as some looked a bit tired. Had you considered that possibility pre-game?

“You look at it and consider making changes and we had the bodies to do that but momentum was with us at the time and we were in our stride. But you’re very cautious of upsetting that. When you make five or six changes, it really upsets the rhythm. So you’re trying to get that balance. To be fair the players tried, but you could see with a few they were just dead on their feet. Unfortunately our schedule caught up with us on the night.”

We have four league games left. Despite the Pat’s defeat and, Shelbourne only getting one point from six on Friday and Monday,  the title remains up for grabs. It’s been an amazingly close title race and it’s not over yet.

“It’s definitely not over. I said a few weeks ago the last round is the hardest, and it always is. We know that from experience. So it’s definitely not over which is amazing and it’s all to play for. We’ll take care of tomorrow night against APOEL, then move onto another big game on Sunday.”

The stage is set now for the UEFA Conference league stage as APOEL arrive in Tallaght. How exciting is it for you personally to be again pitting your wits against opposing head coaches/managers and will you take the 2022 campaign experience into these games?

“I think all of us will have learned from the last campaign, there’s no doubt about that. This stage of European football is exciting as you’re playing against different teams you don’t play against regularly. It’s a different challenge, it’s fresh with different systems. Tactically it challenges you, which is really good and it’s a challenge we’re looking forward to. APOEL are a really good team, we know that, but that’s this level of competition. So we’re really looking forward to meeting that challenge head-on.”

What have you made of watching APOEL and what can Rovers fans expect to see with their style and set up?

“APOEL are a really good team. Very strong off crosses, good in transition, quick and direct. You can see they have players who have played around Europe throughout the years, you can see that with the quality they have. But again, you don’t expect anything different at this level and you think what we’ve faced already this season, we should be well used to that. So it’s really exciting, playing against a good team and that’s where we want to be.”

Josh Honohan limped off early in the Pat’s game on Friday. How is he and are any players still out injured?

“It’s a strange one, Josh has come back fine, his scan came back clear and he feels good so it must’ve been just a spasm. So Josh is clear to play, all going well today in training. Seán Hoare and Aaron McEneff are back. So only Trevor Clarke and Rory Gaffney remain on the injured list.”