TFTES 337
from Tales From The East Stand Hosted by Gary Parsons & Karl Reilly
This week's special guest host is a club legend, four-in-a-row and FAI Cup winning captain Ronan Finn, who is in his second season at UCD to pursue a Master's Degree in Sports Management. Finner helps review a boring St Joseph's game, which his daughter enjoyed at least, and a big win over Derry in Tallaght on Sunday that put Rovers 10 points clear. We look ahead to Thursday's tie with Kosovo Football expert Eljon, and potentially a trip to Portugal where Ronan made his European debut with Sporting Fingal in 2010, and also nearly cost Rovers the title that season. We reminisce about Belgrade and White Hart Lane, his League of Ireland debut for the college in 2005 and scoring against the Hoops as a teenager. Ronan talks his long wait for a first European goal, Pico taking the armband and equalling his European appearance record, Rory Gaffney's greatness, Burkey's fitness, the gaffer's half-time team talks and "the turn" when results haven't yet come. We discuss his relationship with Stephen Bradley and the senior leadership group within the squad, winning the Cup and lifting the league trophy with young Josh, and making the move from centre-mid to right-wing back, all the way up to his last goal for Rovers against Bohs in front of the south stand and the difficult decision to leave the club. There's also a chat about the dip in crowds this summer, extending the league season, doing punditry for our Conference League Phase games on TV last season, his ambitions in football after he retires, and, of course, fishing.
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