Shamrock Rovers preview
On Wednesday evening FC Copenhagen embark on yet another European campaign, with the possibility of emulating or even bettering last season’s success beginning with the visit of Irish side Shamrock Rovers to PARKEN.
by Joe Short
Shamrock Rovers Football Club was founded in 1901 in the district of Ringsend in Dublin. The Rovers soon began to win titles, and in the 1922/23 season the club won their first Irish championship, and here began a period of success. Six league titles had already been won by the outbreak of World War II, and success continued after the war when the Rovers also gained status as the first Irish club to play in the European Cup. Their European debut was in 1957, the same year that the club brought home their eighth championship.
But in the late ‘60s the success came to an end for Shamrock Rovers, and it would take 20 years between their tenth championship in 1963/64 and their 11th in 1983/84. The 84 season proved a pivot to the team’s fortunes, as Rovers went on to win the next four Irish titles. Their most recent ‘drought’ has just come to an end, securing the 2010 League of Ireland championship having not finished top of the table since 1993/94.
Their most recent title victory was one of the most memorable in League of Ireland history. Heading into the last game, the Hoops were neck and neck with Bohemians FC. The Rovers were about to throw the championship away, when an equaliser secured a 2-2 draw against Bray Wanderers. While Bohemians won their last match against Dundalk 3-1, their goal difference couldn’t better that of Rovers’, meaning the title came back home for the first time in 16 years.
All in all, Shamrock Rovers have won 16 championships and 24 cups, making them the most successful club in Irish football.
The 2011 season and Shamrock Rovers
In Ireland the season equals the calendar year, so while we here in Denmark have just started a new Superliga season, then Irish are little over halfway through their campaign. The Rovers could have been safe in first place coming into their PARKEN clash, but recently they have dropped in form, losing 2-0 to Sligo Rovers and 1-0 to Derry. Just two teams are above Shamrock Rovers at the top of the table, but everything is quite close. Sligo lead with 46 points from 23 matches, while Derry have 45 points from 24 matches, equal with the Hoops.
The Rovers’ best offensive threat this season is Gary Twigg, who has so far scored 11 goals in the league. Twigg was also the club’s top scorer last season with 22.
It should also be noted that the Rovers have recently sold their main goalkeeper Alan Mannus to Scottish Premier League club St. Johnstone.
Way to the third qualification round
Shamrock Rovers entered this year's UEFA Champions League in the second qualification round. Their opponents were FC Flora Tallinn from Estonia, and incidentally the first leg was officiated by Danish referee Jakob Kehlet. In the first half Kehlet ordered a Tallinn penalty, but the attempt from 12 yards was saved by Alan Mannus. Just minutes later the home side scored through Chris Turner, the game finishing 1-0 in Dublin.
The following week came the return leg in Tallinn. No goals were forced, meaning Shamrock Rovers progressed through to the third round of qualifying, where they will now meet FC Copenhagen.
Shamrock Rovers have been in Denmark before
Wednesday's opponents have once before met a Danish team in the European Cup. It was in autumn 1968 when Randers Freja met the Irish. Randers won the first leg with a 1-0 home victory, and the return game at Glanmalure Park also won, so the Danes progressed through 3-1 on aggregate.
