Show Notes
Episode 40 of The Milltown Way — the independent Shamrock Rovers podcast. Ryan Brennan flies solo for the most loaded episode of the season so far. Three points at Sligo. A Rovers player on the world stage. Some transfer business is completed. And the Champions League is around the corner. We start with Friday night's win at The Showgrounds. Rovers came from behind to win 2-1, and Graham Burke was outstanding. Fitzgerald was given acres of space to score at 13 minutes, Stevens was troubled by the long ball from the first whistle, and Rovers created almost nothing of note before half-time. The substitutions made a difference, but so did the red card at 52 minutes. We ask the uncomfortable question: would the second half have looked the same against eleven men? We also look at Michael Noonan's four missed chances, the Sobowale situation, and what the performance actually tells us ahead of Monday's European tie. Then we turn to Roberto 'Pico' Lopes. On Friday night in Miami, a man from Crumlin, Dublin, spent 120 minutes marking Lionel Messi. Cape Verde fell behind three times against the reigning world champions and fought back twice before losing 3–2 to Argentina in extra time. We tell the full story, from the LinkedIn message written in Portuguese that Lopes ignored for nine months, thinking it was spam, to the moment his family watched on as he walked out at Hard Rock Stadium. We also ask what this actually means for the League of Ireland, and challenge the comfortable version of that story. Transfer news: Jonathan Afolabi is strongly linked with a move to Tallaght — we assess the credibility of the link and push back on the easy narrative. Sean Murphy has signed from UCD, a smart developmental piece of business, but let's not overstate it. And Trevor Clarke moves to Dundalk on an 18-month deal; we give an honest account of where his Rovers career ended up and why that departure hurts less than the sentiment suggests. We close with a full preview of Tuesday's Champions League first qualifying round first leg against Floriana in Malta. This includes something we suspect most previews will miss: Floriana's green and white colours date back to 1905, when the Royal Dublin Fusiliers were stationed in the town and played three friendlies against the club. Floriana changed their kit to match the Irish soldiers. Their official nickname to this day is 'Tal-Irish' — the Irish. When Rovers run out at Centenary Stadium, they'll be facing a club whose identity was literally built around an Irish connection. We also cover their European history, previous meetings with Irish clubs, the injury concerns for Rovers, what a successful first leg looks like, and why Rovers should be going to Malta to win — not to survive. Follow The Milltown Way on X, Instagram and TikTok. If you enjoy the show, please share it; word of mouth is everything for an independent outlet. All views are those of the host and do not represent Shamrock Rovers.
More from The Milltown Way
Episode 60 - Galway setback as the title race tightens Shamrock Rovers suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat away to Galway United on Friday night, leaving the Hoops with plenty to think about as the title race reaches its decisive stages. On Episode 60 of The Milltown Way, Ryan Brennan and Adam Casey look back on the defeat at Eamonn Deacy Park, assess where Rovers fell short and discuss what the result means with just two league games remaining. We also consider the concerns raised by supporters and what Rovers need to show in response. The conversation then turns to the wider title race, with Monday night's meeting between Derry City and St Patrick's Athletic potentially having a significant impact on the final standings. We discuss the possible implications for Rovers, how the other contenders could influence the run-in and why the Hoops must focus on taking care of their own results. Finally, we look ahead to Friday night's trip to face Sligo Rovers. Sligo may have already been relegated, but their 1-1 draw with Dundalk shows they won't necessarily be an easy opponent. We discuss the challenge Rovers could face, the importance of approaching the game with the right mentality and what a response to the Galway defeat needs to look like. With the title still to be decided and every point carrying enormous importance, there's plenty to discuss. 🎙️ Hosted by Ryan Brennan and Adam Casey. Thanks for listening and supporting The Milltown Way. Follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok for daily Shamrock Rovers content, and don't forget to subscribe, rate and review wherever you get your podcasts. #ShamrockRovers #SRFC #LOI #LeagueOfIreland #TheMilltownWay
On this episode, Ryan Brennan and Adam Casey look back on a massive night at Tallaght Stadium as Shamrock Rovers beat Bohemians 2-1 in a crucial Dublin derby. John McGovern opened the scoring before Bohs equalised in the second half, but Dylan Watts delivered the decisive goal to secure all three points for Rovers. The victory puts the Hoops six points clear at the top of the Premier Division with five games remaining, giving them a significant advantage in the title race. We break down the key moments, the performances that made the difference and what the result means as the season approaches its conclusion. We then turn our attention to the full-time scenes at Tallaght Stadium. Celebrations in front of the supporters were followed by confrontations involving players and staff from both sides. We discuss what happened, the emotions surrounding such a significant derby and where the line should be drawn when the final whistle blows. Finally, we look ahead to Friday night's trip to face Galway United. With the title race heating up and every point becoming increasingly important, we discuss the challenge Rovers will face away from home and what they need to do to maintain their advantage at the top. Hosted by Ryan Brennan & Adam Casey
On this episode, Ryan Brennan and Adam Casey look back on Shamrock Rovers' 3-1 win over Drogheda United at Tallaght Stadium. John McGovern scored twice, with Graham Burke also on the scoresheet, as Rovers picked up another important three points in the Premier Division. We discuss the key moments from the game, the standout performances, and what the result means as the title race approaches its conclusion. We then turn our attention to the Republic of Ireland Under-21s, who produced a memorable 3-1 victory over England at Turner's Cross to secure a place in the play-offs for the 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. Ireland came from behind to beat the reigning European champions, with Tommy Lonergan scoring twice and Conor McManus also finding the net. Michael Noonan came off the bench in the 82nd minute, playing the final eight minutes, while Adam Brennan was not in the matchday squad. We look back on a huge result for Jim Crawford's side, the turnaround in their qualifying campaign and what the victory could mean for the young players involved. We also look ahead to Friday's play-off draw, with Ireland among eight nations competing for the four remaining places at next summer's finals. The two-legged play-offs are scheduled for November. Finally, we look ahead to Rovers' next challenge as they prepare to face Bohemians. With the title race entering a decisive stage, we discuss the threat Bohs pose, the importance of the fixture, and what Rovers need to do to maintain the top.
Episode 57 - The Rovers return with An Leanaimid On this episode, Ryan Brennan and Adam Casey are joined by Daniel from An Leanaimid, the Irish-language League of Ireland podcast. We start by getting to know Daniel and finding out more about An Leanaimid. We discuss how the podcast came about, why Daniel decided to cover the League of Ireland through Irish, what it is like creating football content at such a young age and how the project has developed. We also discuss the wider League of Ireland podcast and media landscape, the appeal of covering Irish football in the Irish language and what independent creators can bring to the game. We then turn our attention to the latest news around Shamrock Rovers, including Michael Noonan's confirmed move to Nottingham Forest. We discuss what the move means for the young forward, his development at Rovers and what it says about the opportunities available to young League of Ireland players. We also look at the latest international involvement for Rovers players, including Adam Brennan, Michael Noonan and Roberto Lopes, and discuss the wider question of League of Ireland representation at international level. Finally, we look ahead to Rovers' return to Tallaght Stadium to face Drogheda United in the Premier Division. We look at Drogheda's recent form, their record against Rovers this season, the players who could pose a threat and what Rovers need to do to get the three points. 🎙️ Hosted by Ryan Brennan
Episode 56 - Looking beyond the international break