Tickets remain on sale for this match. Kick off is at 8pm on Monday in Tallaght Stadium. Coverage on LOITV.

We finally began our 2026 league campaign with an impressive 2-0 win over Saint Patrick’s Athletic. Was it the perfect start for our first game?

“Yes, it was. For our first league game, a Dublin Derby, against a good St Pat’s team, to score two goals and not concede and have some players making their debut, it was the perfect start.”

We were on the front foot from the off. Were you a bit frustrated it remained scoreless at the break?

“I think, as it’s the first game, you know it will take time. But I think you could see in the early minutes, there were really good signs in terms of what we were doing and how we were playing. When we’re like that, it’s usually only a matter of time. It’s just about keeping that level up and to be fair to the players, they did and we got our rewards.”

St Pat’s inevitably had a dominant period early in the second half where they struck the post twice. How impressive was it that we weathered that storm and then scored two goals in quick succession?

”Pat’s were on top for ten minutes in the second half when they hit the post. I think when you look at it, it was more down to us and what we did wrong. It was us giving away silly possession that gave Pat’s their opportunities. That was the disappointing bit, but again, the maturity and understanding of the group to play our way through it, was really good. Then we took over the game again. But you will have periods in the game when the opposition will have chances or are on top, that’s football. Then you need people to come up big and Ed McGinty did what he does and made an incredible save.”

Adam Brennan, on his Rovers league debut, scored a brilliant goal and provided the assist for Michael Noonan’s opener. It was a remarkable league debut for Adam.

“Yes, it was. He showed everyone why we wanted him here at this club, why we worked so hard and why Ronan Finn worked so hard to get him. That’s only the start for Adam. He was excellent, but he’ll only get better when he gets fitter and stronger and more comfortable with what we do. What a start, Adam is humble and once he keeps working hard, he’s got a really good chance.”

We now play the postponed opening day game against Dundalk. You said before that game that Dundalk might surprise some people. Does their form so far, a 2-2 draw away to Derry and a 1-1 draw with Drogheda bear that out, especially as they conceded late equalisers in both games?

“I couldn’t understand what people were talking about. Maybe people were looking at them on paper rather than watching Dundalk play. When you watch them, as we did in pre-season and in their first two league games, it was quite clear to see what Dundalk are about. They’ve been really dangerous in their games, cause real problems and are a good team. I’ve no doubt they will come to Tallaght tomorrow night and try and show that.”

How did the players come out physically from Friday’s game and are there any new injuries to add to Danny Mandroiu, Max Kovalevskis and Rory Gaffney?

“Enda Stevens picked up a bug over the weekend. Also, John McGovern wasn’t feeling well during the game on Friday, so there seems to be a bug going around. Neither of those will train today, we’ll see how they are tomorrow. Everyone else is fine.”