Shamrock Rovers midfielder Ronan Finn is counting on the squad's extensive European experience to carry them through against Flora Tallinn, 10 years on from when he helped the Hoops to a valuable result against the Estonian club.
The Tallaght-based side will hope to take a big step towards the UEFA Europa Conference League group stage tonight in the first leg against Flora.
Finn, who featured for Rovers against the same opponents in the Champions League qualifiers a decade ago at the start of a continental campaign that led to them making Europa League group stage history, feels the experience built up by the squad is invaluable.
"I played in Tallinn 10 years ago and had a memorable night then," he told RTÉ Sport's Tony O'Donoghue of that crucial goalless draw.
"We've looked at them, we've watched them and are they probably going to be a stronger side than what I faced back then.
"But there is great experience within the squad. There's not only European experience but international experience and that all will stand to us.
"It's vital. We do have some young players but we've got a lot of experience."
Late goals have also been an added boon for Rovers this season and Finn believes the resilience built within the camp has contributed to that habit and that it is a case of "trusting their systems".
"That's been instilled from the staff down. We continue to play the right way. You see the goals that we score, they're manufactured, they're not just long balls hoofed into the box," he said.
"We continue to play, continue to try and work the ball, work our systems of play and sometimes you've just got to do that.
"A lot of the teams we've faced have given up territory, let us have the ball and you've just got to keep working and keep working.
"We'll see what the (Flora) game brings. We're an experienced outfit, we'll manage the game what way we can."
Thoughts from Ronan Finn and Stephen Bradley ahead of @ShamrockRovers away game with Flora Tallinn in the #UECL @ @Corktod #rtesoccer #rtenews pic.twitter.com/JrQ3bQ2pLQ
— Soccer Republic (@SoccRepublic) August 18, 2021
