Shamrock Rovers' youngsters backed to thrive in heat of Dublin derby against Bohemians

Dan Cleary reckons Shamrock Rovers’ youngsters can cope with the heat of a Dublin derby against Bohemians.

An alarming injury crisis has forced Hoops boss Stephen Bradley to fill his bench in recent games with some of Rovers’ top academy prospects.

Max Kovalevskis and Matthew Britton (both 16) and fellow teens Cory O’Sullivan, John O’Sullivan and Cian Barrett have all gotten game-time in the past week.

Bradley is hopeful that some of his more experienced stars will be taken off the injury list in time for tonight’s Dalymount Park clash.

Sean Hoare, Lee Grace, Gary O’Neill, Aaron McEneff, Jack Byrne, Markus Poom, Neil Farrugia, Graham Burke and Rory Gaffney all missed last Monday’s 4-0 win over Drogheda United.

And Richie Towell picked up an injury in the first-half to rule him out tonight - but Poom, Hoare, Byrne and Farrugia could be back.

If Bradley does have to call on some of the younger members of his squad, however, Cleary is confident that they will step up to the occasion.

“I can't remember playing in a team that has as many injuries but it does happen, you just have to get on with it,” said the defender.

“You can't dwell on it or keep talking about the lads who are injured.

“Anyone that steps into the team is ready to play, we've shown that in our squad already this season.

“With the lads that are missing there's still quality there all over the pitch to step in. The young lads came in on Monday night and got minutes.

“A lot of the young lads do step in in training and we see their quality, they are very good and have a lot of ability.

“It's great for them that the manager trusts them, that's the type of manager you need. Max came on and he's only 15 (he just turned 16), God only knows what I was doing at 15.”

The difference between playing in front of a less-than-half-filled Tallaght Stadium against Drogheda and a sold out Dalymount against Bohs could hardly be more stark.

However, Cleary has faith in Rovers’ more youthful players.

“A lot of the young lads that come in know our system, know the way we want to play, know what the manager wants,” he said.

“Obviously you can get caught up in big games like that but I think when you’re young you’re naïve to it. You can get on with it and just concentrate on your job.

“I think they’re ready for it. I’ve seen their ability and they showed it (against Drogheda).

“You’ve seen the likes of Conan (Noonan), Nudger (Nugent) have stepped straight into the first team and performed very well. I think the next batch is ready to go.

“There is bags of experience in our dressing room, lots of medals, lots of experience in Europe. The likes of Pico (Lopes) too. I think we can drag the younger lads through.

“There is loads of experience to cope with these types of games. I think we’re more than ready.”

Cleary himself is definitely not getting carried away by the hype surrounding the most high-profile fixture on the Premier Division calendar.

“For me, I approach every game the same, I didn't even know who we had this weekend until two days (before the Drogheda game),” he admitted.

“I don't look too far ahead, we have such a busy schedule, this is our fourth game in nine or ten days. Now we have two more so we can't look too far ahead.

“It's a great game to be part of, a great game for Irish football.”

He added: “I don’t think you can get caught up in this derby thing too much.

“The Dublin derbies are great to play in, great for the fans, always sell outs, but you can’t get caught in them too much because it’ll affect your performance as a team.

“We don’t change anything. We concentrate on our jobs.”

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