Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley has said that results over the Easter period have shown just how strong the champions' squad truly is.
After dropping 10 points in their opening eight SSE Airtricity League Premier Division games, Rovers racked up a trio of wins in quick succession against Shelbourne, St Pat’s and, most recently on Monday night, Dundalk.
For Bradley, those results point to squad depth not only blessed with good quality but also the perfect attitude.
"It’s really important, you always look at that," Bradley told RTÉ Sport when asked about rotation.
"[Whether] you have three games or one game you always have to look at the load in the training and thankfully we have a fantastic S&C coach that is right on top of that and advises us on what players need to come out and what players need to play.
"Thankfully we have a really strong squad that allows us to rotate.
"We said at the start of the year if we want to go and compete on all fronts we’re going to need everyone. To be fair to the group, every one of them has bought into that and understands that and respects that.
"They’re really good characters together, they understand that everyone is going to play their part at some point of the season and it was the same again tonight."
After the win over the Lilywhites, Bradley reserved special praise for Jack Byrne who produced the assist for Danny Mandroiu's winner.
"I thought for 10 or 15 minutes tonight he was unplayable.
"He showed real signs of getting back to his level and there were times in the first half that he was just off with the pass or Danny’s run was just off, but we knew the spaces were there.
"Gary O'Neill gives it to Jack and the pass is top class. Once Danny is one-on-one it’s a goal."
While Shamrock Rovers mined nine points in the three-game Easter run, Dundalk came away with four follow a draw with St Pat's and victory over Sligo Rovers.
The Louth side now find themselves nine points off Derry in top spot but manager Stephen O’Donnell is seeing enough quality to suggest that they can improve their position – if the players believe in their abilities.
"It’s just up to us now to proper believe," he said. "We’re Dundalk Football Club, over the last eight years we’ve been, by miles, the dominant team in the country and that’s the calibre of club we’re playing for.
"You’re here because you're a good player and we’re going to work with them.
"I thought there was lots of positive stuff and obviously this is the acid test in regards playing on a lovely pitch like that against the best team in the country.
"I thought a lot of our lads stood up well to them and now we have a good picture, I suppose, of where we need to improve and how we need to improve."
