Last Friday, Shamrock Rovers became just the second side in history to win four Premier Division titles in a row, but a sour taste has been left in the mouth of Hoops' boss Stephen Bradley after their trip south to Cork City.
All across European leagues, we've become accustomed to teams giving the champions a guard of honour if they've already won the title prior to the final game of the season. Last night, Shamrock Rovers arrived at Turner's Cross to face already relegation threatened Cork City.
READ HERE: How Shamrock Rovers Won The 2023 League Of Ireland Title
The Rebel Army opted against giving the champions a guard of honour, leading to some ruthless and aggrevated comments from Stephen Bradley after full time.
Stephen Bradley labels City boss Holland as 'weak'
After a weekend of deserved celebrations for the Shamrock Rovers team, Stephen Bradley made 10 changes to the side that beat St Patrick's Athletic on Friday evening. There was places in the starting lineup for the likes Conan Noonan and a first start for the highly rated Naj Razi.
With Cork City interim manager Richie Holland deciding against giving Shamrock Rovers a guard of honour before the goalless draw, Stephen Bradley offered his thoughts after the game.
Speaking to RedFM, the Rovers boss was asked his opinion on the sides walking out together.
Stephen Bradley said:
I thought it was really, really poor from Cork. I thought it was a total lack of respect. Yeah, I thought it was really poor from them.
🗣️ “A total lack of respect”. @ShamrockRovers boss Stephen Bradley was not happy with the lack of a guard of honour for his league winning side before this evening’s 0-0 draw with @CorkCityFC pic.twitter.com/JMBNJgdwY2
— Cork's RedFM Sport (@BigRedBench) October 30, 2023
In years gone by, Shamrock Rovers have received guards of honours from a number of teams, including some of their biggest rivals and title contenders.
6 November 2022; UCD players form a guard of honour for Shamrock Rovers before the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division match between UCD and Shamrock Rovers at the UCD Bowl in Belfield, Dublin. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
5 November 2021; Shamrock Rovers captain Roberto Lopes leads his side out as Waterford players provide a guard of honour before the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division match between Waterford and Shamrock Rovers at the RSC in Waterford. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
7 November 2020; Shamrock Rovers captain Ronan Finn leads his side out through a guard of honour by Derry City players prior to the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division match between Shamrock Rovers and Derry City at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
9 November 2020; Shamrock Rovers players run out to a guard of honour from Shelbourne players prior to the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division match between Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers at Tolka Park in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
While Richie Holland put emphasis on the displeasure a guard of honour would cause Cork City supporters, the reasoning didn't change the opinion of Stephen Bradley who blasted the City boss after the game.
Speaking to the Irish Independent, Bradley said:
I just think it’s really poor from Cork, I don’t understand it. It’s just the respect isn’t it? I’d definitely do it for a team. It’s their decision,
Derry did it because they recognise it’s hard winning leagues because you have to show up every day, every week - the least you can do is give someone a guard of honour. Derry showed us that respect last year. Their manager’s decision today was really poor, awful.
They want to create a siege mentality supposedly. It’s difficult to understand it. They just said they wouldn’t be doing it. His fans wouldn’t be happy. I think that’s so weak, really poor. That’s not leadership.
Stephen Bradley's views were put before Richie Holland, who stood by his decision despite the stir caused between the managers and clubs.
Holland said:
I spoke to Stephen before the game and I gave Stephen a couple of bottles of champagne to congratulate him from everyone at Cork City Football Club,
Since I’ve come in, I’ve been beating the drum that it’s Cork versus the rest of the world and it’s no disrespect to Shamrock Rovers but I know my fanbase wouldn’t have liked us doing that tonight. I’d be hypocritical going against my own. I’ll take the flak.
I need to make sure there’s a mentality here that I have everyone on side for the next two weeks. I told Stephen that if the situation was different, and we were in a different place in the league table then I obviously have morals and I would have done it but just for where we are at the minute and the fanbase is so important, I need that togetherness.
It wasn’t an easy decision. I’ve the utmost respect for Stephen and his staff and the champions are the champions but I felt I did my bit by meeting him at the start and doing what I did. Just for me, it’s more about , I need to look after my own down here and that’s it. It’s no disrespect to anyone.
Regardless of last night's result, Cork City will find themselves contesting in the promotion-relegation playoff against either Waterford or local rivals Cobh Ramblers.
Following Stephen Bradley's comments, it's clear that the Rovers boss won't be sharing the two bottles of champagne gifted to him by Holland, with the City interim manager anytime soon.
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