Rovers capture Under 19 League of Ireland crown

WHEN it mattered most, Shamrock Rovers were unflinching in their pursuit of the EA Sports Under 19 League of Ireland title, winning it on the final day of the season.

Tallaght Stadium played host for the final-day clash between the Hoops and Sligo Rovers on Sunday, and it did not disappoint as the hosts edged it 2-1.

Rovers took the lead through a Jamie Doyle goal after six-minutes and Michael Leddy doubled their advantage just before the break.

Ciaran Jennings pulled one back for Sligo in the second-half, but the young Hoops held on to claim the spoils and, ultimately, seize the league title.

The final week of the league season proved to be a hectic one for Aidan Price-coached side, as the title-chase heated up.

Sixth in the table, Rovers earned a crucial 1-0 win on the road against a tricky Cork City side.

This took them into an all-or-nothing clash with St Patrick’s Athletic on Thursday and a late, late Aidomo Emakhu strike in added-time clinched them a 3-2 win.

“That put it in our hands on the final day. We just needed to look after our own result,” Price told The Echo.

“Look it wasn’t our best game, we’ve played better, but we got over the line and it’s a just reward for the boys.”

“Their attitude when they were under serious pressure to perform over the last few games was second to none.

“They worked really hard over the course of the season, putting in a serious effort and that showed a great level of commitment.

“We lost some players to other clubs and look, of course that made it difficult, but the lads kept the head down and really showed a level of determination, discipline, and professionalism.

“At that age it is of course about development, but when you play for Shamrock Rovers, it is about winning as well. This group of players coming through are being judged on their success.

“It’s also about trying to develop these players as human beings.

“Some of these lads really have the right attitude to go forward, but we are lucky in the sense that they are all really good humans, they carry themselves well and they just want to play football.

“Following the success of the first team and then the Under 17s on the Saturday, it was really superb for the lads to win the league in Tallaght Stadium and enjoy that success.”