The half-time team talk of Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley seemed to provide the spark for the SSE Premier Division champions as they secured three points and the Dublin derby bragging rights in their victory over Bohemians at Tallaght Stadium on Friday night.
A crowd of 10,094 - the highest attendance at a league match this century - turned up to watch the marquee fixture, but the adversaries cancelled one another out in the first half.
While a Bohs side under new manager Alan Reynolds were architects of their own demise to a degree after the restart, Bradley's words of wisdom played a crucial role in acting as a catalyst in the hosts' performance.
Johnny Kenny, Darragh Burns and Aaron Greene all got on the scoresheet in the 3-1 victory, with the Gypsies' consolation coming via Declan McDaid at the death.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport, Bradley admitted to being far from impressed with his side's contribution in the opening 45 minutes, but their response earned plaudits from the manager.
"In the first half, we were off it," he said. "Our passing was slow and sloppy. We didn't penetrate when we should have penetrated, They were leaving big spaces and we weren't hurting them.
"We had a look at it at half-time, and we felt if we penetrated when the spaces were there, we could really hurt them. And we did that in the second half.
"I know what these players are capable of, and I know the first half wasn't us. Anything Bohs did in the first half came off the back of us being sloppy. And I felt if we tidied that up, we'd control the game.
"Once you explain it to these players and show them, they're very, very quick to understand what's going on on the pitch, and second half they understood that.
After a slow start to the campaign, Bradley has sensed his team ratcheting up a notch, and he added: "I've been saying our performances are just getting there. The three goals that we got tonight, I think that's been coming for a number of weeks, to be honest. We just need to stay focused on what we do, keep trying to improve, and let's see where it takes us."
Man of the match Josh Honohan, who arrived from Cork City at the end of last season, paid tribute to his team-mates and his manager for their efforts in helping him to bed in to the Rovers set-up.
'He's won it four times in a row, it just shows the hunger' - Man of the Match Josh Honohan praises manager Stephen Bradley after the champions' 3-1 win over Bohemians #rtesoccer pic.twitter.com/rt2yzqr5OZ
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) March 29, 2024
"The lads have been brilliant," the 23-year-old enthused. "I've said it so many times. They've been really welcoming. All the staff have been really welcoming, and look, the gaffer's been brilliant with me. Just little tips and little sessions he's put on.
"To give you an example, on Tuesday, just doing a bit of shooting in the lashing rain. He's won it [the league] four times in a row. It just shows the hunger. When people go on about the hunger, that just shows it.
"He doesn't need to be out there doing the shooting sessions with me, but he's out there in the cold and he's in the rain. He's been brilliant with that sort of stuff."
Bradley's opposite number Reynolds has been at the helm for just two days of training. The former Rovers player will now attempt to address the deficiencies in the Dalymount outfit.
'There's loads of work to do' - Bohemians manager Alan Reynolds acknowledged there was a lot of mistakes in the second half #rtesoccer #LOI pic.twitter.com/LrxLsgwQIt
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) March 29, 2024
"We didn't start the second half well and gave away cheap goals," he admitted.
"They committed to it first half, but second half there were a lot of mistakes.
"But look, there's loads of work to do. I knew that coming into it. I'm prepared, we are all prepared.
"I spoke to the players about improving, and that's what we'll do."
Reynolds' expanded on his immediate focus, adding: "I'm looking at the short term, getting them in, getting them organised, passing the ball better, and being better without the ball.
"We'll just stick with it. There are young lads in there, and it's up to me and the staff to improve them."
