RORY GAFFNEY was the match-winner - but eight-year-old Josh Bradley was the star as Shamrock Rovers lifted the League of Ireland title for a record 20th time.
Stephen Bradley’s son carried the giant trophy to the centre of the pitch, aided by captain Ronan Finn and centre-half Roberto Lopes, once the final whistle went confirming their 1-0 win over second-placed Derry City.
Josh’s story, his battle against a leukaemia diagnosis the Bradley family received last June, has followed Rovers on their European and domestic adventures.
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It almost led to Bradley calling time on a glittering career as Rovers boss, but his family, including Josh, urged him to carry on.
So as the Hoops toasted their third league title in a row, it was fitting to see the brave youngster front and centre of the celebrations.
‘There’s only one Josh Bradley’, sang the Rovers faithful in a bumper 7,726 attendance as last night’s game drew to a close, earning them the applause from proud dad Stephen.
They also saluted their brilliant goalkeeper Alan Mannus with a chant of ‘one more year’, as he joined his teammates in a lap of honour.
At the age of 40, the talk is that he might pack it up. But time and again this season he produced age-defying performances.
Not that he had much to do last night. The spoils may have been decided over 200km away last Monday when Derry City failed to win in Sligo, but there was still a bit of bite to last night’s clash.
Ruaidhri Higgins’ players were gracious enough to give a guard of honour to 20-times champions Rovers ahead of kick-off. But once the whistle went, the niceties went out the window.
City centre-half Shane McEleney was the first name in referee Rob Harvey’s notebook for a flying challenge 10 yards inside Hoops territory.
And midfielder Sadou Diallo introduced himself to departing Rovers wing-back Andy Lyons with a couple of meaty challenges.
Lyons was wearing the green and white at Tallaght Stadium for the last time, ahead of his winter move to English Championship side Blackpool.
He would love to have signed off with a goal, but the closest he came to that was moments before the break when he came in off the left flank to meet Gaffney’s cross-field pass.
Lyons took a touch and tried to tease the ball inside the right-hand upright, but there wasn’t enough bend on his effort.
The Ireland Under-21 ace did leave with an assist, however, for Gaffney’s 38th minute opener.
He spun past Patrick McEleney on the left touchline and sprinted 40 yards with the ball, evading the attention of Ronan Boyce and Mark Connolly before cutting the ball back to the striker.
Gaffney’s first effort was blocked by Shane McEleney, but he prodded the ball home at the second time of asking.
It was a fitting final home contribution - and a reminder why Blackpool just wouldn’t take no for an answer - by the man that made the switch from bitter rivals Bohemians last winter.
Aside from those two link-ups between Lyons and Gaffney, there was little of note in the opening period.
Sean Hoare, playing in an unfamiliar midfield role, was off-target for the Hoops, while Jamie McGonigle and Michael Duffy failed to hit the target for the visitors.
McGonigle was off target again shortly after the break. His finish didn’t match the turn, which took Roberto Lopes out of the equation, and his effort sailed well wide.
Mark Connolly then headed straight at Alan Mannus, while Lyons forced a smart stop from Brian Maher on 68 minutes.
By now, however, the intensity had ebbed from this one, with Rovers having one eye on the trophy presentation at the end and Derry on the FAI Cup final against Shelbourne.
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