Rovers raise IAFA League Trophy after superb season
SHAMROCK Rovers Amputee team capped off a great season with two draws against Cork City and Bohemians in Ballymun on Saturday.
Having already secured the IAFA League title, the Hoops had the pleasure of raising the prize last weekend and adding that to the Sean McCaffrey Foundation Cup they had won earlier in the season.
Shamrock Rovers Amputee team finished off a superb season that saw them land both the IAFA League Trophy as well as the Sean McCaffrey Foundation Cup
Shipping only two losses in a season in which they took 40 out of a possible 48 points, the Hoops won the IAFA title by 10 points ahead of closest rivals Bohs.
The two concluding games against their league rivals offered them the chance to get more of a look at some of their fringe players and blood new talent.
“I was happy with the two games because we rotated the squad” Head Coach Stuart McSweeney told The Echo.
“We gave Kevin Fogarty his debut in amputee football and he did very well. One or two guys who wouldn’t normally get as much game time got more of a chance and to get two draws was really good.
“You’re coming up against Bohs and Cork who have seasoned players. We were ahead in both games and unfortunately they came back, but I was very happy with our performances” he said.
Kevan O’Rourke opened the scoring for them against Cork who served up a late leveller as did Bohs when they fell behind to a superb Alan Wall goal.
“There’s a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes” said McSweeney.
“Last year we were training for one hour a week and we upped that to one hour and 40 minutes on Wednesdays with lads coming in the extra Saturday for tactical work.
“To win the league by such a margin just goes to show how much we’ve improved.
“Last season we weren’t really in the title race until after the midway point when we went on an amazing run.
“Before the start of this season we sat down and I told the lads that they could certainly win a cup and possibly the league, so to do the double is just a fantastic achievement.
“That’s the season wrapped up and the lads will have a couple of weeks rest before we start looking ahead to the Champions League next year” he added.
