‘We have had players before who had ability but attitude was horrible’ – Stephen Bradley upbeat about Rovers’ teen prospects

The Hoops had eight senior pros in the stand, all injured, for Monday’s Premier Division game at home to Drogheda United, a 4-0 win for the champions, and there was an addition to sick bay as veteran Richie Towell was forced off after half an hour.

Bradley does hope to have Sean Hoare, Markus Poom and Jack Byrne back in the squad for Friday’s test away to Bohemians while striker Rory Gaffney will also be assessed.

That injury crisis has led to a reliance on academy players.

Darragh Nugent (21) and Conan Noonan (21) are seen as established first team members but in recent weeks, Cian Dillon (18), Cian Barrett (19) and Matthew Britton (16) have played for the first team, while on Monday night Max Kovalevskis (16), Cory O’Sullivan (17) and John O’Sullivan (18) all came off the bench for their league debuts.

"All three did really well in preseason, they have been in training quite a bit and we know them well. We know the three and Matthew (Britton) the other night,” says Bradley.

“We have to be careful, Max is only gone 16 the other day, he may be one of our youngest-ever. We really like Cory and he's played for us before, sometimes you get that sliding doors moment in your career, we had a few missing and they stepped in to do well.”

Bradley urged caution when it was suggested that this crop can continue to progress en bloc and become a force in the first team as he knows teenagers have to be handled with kid gloves.

“It depends on the type of team and the environment, if that's in Tolka like last week on that pitch I don't bring them three on, because you can hurt them. All it takes is one mistake and you can really hurt them. It's in Tallaght, the way our team plays and we have the few goals so it was an opportunity,” he added.

“I don't like putting that pressure on them with labels, you have to be very careful, it's my job now to put them in at the right time and take them out, when they need to be exposed and pushed, they are only young.

“But the four you've seen here in the last month have a real chance, not just because of ability but because of their attitude.

“They are all really humble, hard-working kids and as a manager that's all you want, a good attitude, you need ability but we will help with the rest and them four have it. Hopefully they stay focused.

“Cory and John finish school now next month so they will come in full-time which will give them a greater chance to push on, Max and Matthew are still a bit away from that but I'd imagine they (Cory and John O'Sullivan) will push on a little bit.

“I believe the four have a chance, we have had players before who had ability but attitude was horrible, and you don't want to work with those players, we have created a culture and environment in this team, we set standards, if you don't accept it from Jack Byrne you don't accept from a younger player, the ones we have had in the past haven't quite grasped it but these boys, they get it and if they stay with that attitude, it's my job to give them their head.

“Conan (Noonan) and Darragh (Nugent) now, people don't see them as academy players who have come through as they are so integrated with the first team, it's my job to do that now, expose them when the time is right.”

Bradley was pleased with his side’s clinical edge in the dismissal of Drogheda a contrast to the drop in standards he’d seen on Friday when Rovers had to come from behind to draw at home to newly-promoted Galway United.

“We were on it on Monday night, we created chances, the final bit that was lacking on Friday, taking care and the penetration, it was all there so we're in a good place,” he said.

“It was just pleasing off the back of Friday, the bits where we were really poor on Friday, you could see we tightened up on them, I don't think they (Drogheda) had any opportunities at all, Galway had two and it was off us being sloppy but on Monday night we were really focused and on it, gave them nothing.”