Rovers win League and I never thought I'd say this but I hope they do again next season:

PARTIZAN 1-2 ROVERS: could prove to be Irish football's biggest ever result

         Sham - rock Rovers last night won the Airtricity League of Ireland Premier Division in aptly dramatic fashion to climax a quite incredible, unprecedented season for Irish football.  This win - and the money stream which will come from it will allow Rovers to build on the phenomenal European breakthrough they made this season.  In a way, it's fitting that the Hoops should seal their title success in Belfield, a place packed with young sports fans who mostly have an insouciant attitude to the League of Ireland.
            As thousands of Rovers fans made their presence felt in the vast campus last night, heads were turned  -  just like this Shamrock Rovers side have managed to capture the imagination of the Irish public this year.  

            The achievements of the last 12 months deserve to be ranked up there with the greatest days in this club's storied history. For the fans who fought to save the club from extinction six years ago, arguments over how this team compares with the legends of the past are a welcome endeavour.  The fact is that no Irish club has ever gone where this Rovers side have gone.  For the fans who fought to save the club from extinction six years ago, arguments over how this team compares with the legends of the past are a welcome endeavour.

Rovers celebrate winning a 17th League Title last night

In this era of short contracts, it's like a great big version of a US college draft, except that one club basically has the pick of the crop. 


            The decisive factor may well be how the powers-that-be invest the riches from the unprecedented European breakthrough. In other words, it is about leaving a legacy that is more than postcard moments. And, in the throes of celebration, manager Michael O'Neill gave the strongest indication yet that he intends to be a part of it.  

"That's my intention," he said. "You can never look too far ahead in football, but people are assuming that I'm leaving just because I haven't signed a contract. But I said to the board that once the league was dealt with, we'd sit down and discuss the situation."

             Pragmatically, all those involved with the club will accept that the attention will shift away once their final Europa League game with Spurs ends in December. They realise that progress will have to be gradual and that, from next March, their week-to-week activities will slip under the radar again.

             The significant advantage they have is that pretty much every other player in the country would find it hard to say no if the offer of a switch to Tallaght was presented. In this era of short contracts, it's like a great big version of a US college draft, except that one club basically has the pick of the crop.

HAPPY DAYS: Manager Michael O'Neill set to stay and stabilise

             Ironically enough, the recession has made it easier to build a quality squad on a modest budget, with players no longer holding the balance of power.  Refreshingly, though, in the wake of events in Serbia, directors were immediately thinking about what the funds could do for the development of their training facility in Kiltipper.  Already, the land they own is the base for the schoolboy team and with investment they can install pitches and ancillary facilities to bring it up to speed for first-team use  -  thus saving money on rent at the AUL.  It's that kind of talk which other clubs should be really worried about.

            Whilst nationwide respect is welcome;  developing the fan base in Tallaght is the principal aim. Season ticket sales crept up to 2,500 for this year, and if they can add another 500 to that number for 2012 and build steadily, then the platform will grow. 

Big plans ahead in and around Rovers' Tallaght Stadium

            The champions are also likely to be seeded in the second round of the Champions League qualifiers next July, which means they will be one game away from another €500,000 - and two more ties where one victory will ensure a repeat of this year's group stage heroics. The players that remain should have the confidence of being around on a dozen big European nights to draw upon.

            In the dark days, songs about the all-conquering team of the 1980s were a reminder of what the club used to be.  This morning, Rovers fans, both old and new, can dare to dream that the best is yet to come.