Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley has told his players to go achieve something that "would be remembered forever" after reaching the Sports Direct FAI Cup final by defeating Kerry FC in Tallaght Stadium.
With the possibility of the league title being won on Friday against Shelbourne, Bradley’s men can secure a double if they defeat Cork City in the decider on 9 November.
The 6-1 demolition of Kerry was a facile affair, with the outcome never in doubt after Graham Burke opened the scoring.
The ex-Preston North End man added a second, while teenage star Michael Noonan also added a brace. Dylan Watts and a first senior strike for Cian Barrett rounded off the victory.
A first Shamrock Rovers double since 1987 is now within touching distance, something Bradley said was on his mind before the fixture.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport, he said: "We knew that before the game, I was well aware of that.
"Going back to Thursday [the loss to Sparta Prague and resting players], this was always our aim, to give ourselves the chance of doing the double.
"It’d be something that would be remembered forever. We’ve given ourselves that chance now by reaching the final and we’ll do everything happen to make it happen."
The only possible turning point in the match was when Burke avoided a red card for reacting to a tackle by Kerry's Joe Adams.
Bradley didn’t give his thoughts on only a yellow card being issued, simply expressing empathy for why his striker lashed out.
He explained: "When you're in the heat of the moment it's easy for us on the sideline to say you shouldn't react.
"When you're in the heat that he's felt someone's gone to hurt him, it's a normal and human to react and we know Graham has that in him. But he settles down quickly and gets back in the game and he did that really well."
The Hoops boss praised Kerry FC’s endeavours in the game and how his team were professional in the approach of not taking the foot off the gas when more goals were on offer.
"Kerry are an extremely honest group," Bradley stated.
"They work extremely hard for each other, so we had to be patient at times and wait for the opportunities.
"But some of the play was really, really good and I'm really happy that when we had them [struggling to defend] we kept going.
"We experienced that on Thursday tonight. When good teams have you on the ropes, they go for you and that was really pleasing.
"I knew they'd be well-organised, I knew they'd have a game plan to frustrate us and it was just about being patient. When it's 0-0, 1-0, they'll always believe and they'll always keep working when they have something to aim for, but we just had to be patient and find the openings and we did."
'We've had to work extremely hard to get the squad to where it is'
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) October 5, 2025
Stephen Bradley reflects on a job well done for Shamrock Rovers in the FAI Cup semi-final
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Bradley saved special praise for Republic of Ireland Under-21 international Noonan who added to his growing reputation with a brace.
The young striker said he is keen to start in the final, a comment which didn’t surprise his manager.
"That's part of Michael's beauty. He has an elite mentality. He's got an incredibly high ceiling. When you work with him closely, you see that there's still parts that we need to improve. He has the hunger to improve. He has the attitude. Most important, he's got the ability, but he's a pleasure to deal with. You say that I've trusted him.
"He's earned that trust from day one and how he's gone about his business. He's a special talent. We need to mind him, keep developing him and hopefully someday he will fulfil that potential and hit that high ceiling."
Bradley said he was not surprised that emphatic predictions of a St Patrick’s Athletic v Shamrock Rovers final proved wide of the mark, claiming Cork City deserved more respect in their fixture with the Saints in particular.
Ger Nash’s men recorded a resounding 3-0 victory to book their place in Lansdowne Road, despite the fact the could be relegated on Monday week against Shelbourne.
Asked will the final be a great clash, Bradley said: "It will be, they've been excellent. I said that when the draw was made people were talking it’s a Pat’s-Rovers final, I didn't see that.
"Cork are a good team, they showed that last night and when you have someone like Sean Maguire in the team you always have a chance to score goals.
"We know Cork will be an extremely difficult game. They'll bring incredible support.
"That'll be a tough one but we'll be ready."
For Kerry manager Colin Healy, there was frustration over the failure to send off Graham Burke, but he was clear that the better team had won.
"The tackle for Joe, ok, it's a yellow card but you can't put your hands on one of the players like that and get away with it," he told RTÉ Sport afterwards.
'You can't put your hands on one of the players like that'
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) October 5, 2025
Colin Healy had no complaints about Shamrock Rovers getting to the FAI Cup final, but he says referee Paul McLaughlin got a big call wrong
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"I suppose you don't make decisions like that in Tallaght."
Pressed on whether he thought it was a turning point in the game, he added: "I don't think it was a turning point but I just think there was a decision there to be made. You can see the reaction of Stephen Bradley by dragging Burke away from him.
"We've seen it and he's put his hands on his head twice. That's a red card.
"This team, Rovers, is probably the best team in the last seven or eight years. They've reached such high levels and that's a credit to Stephen Bradley and his players.
"We know what we're coming into and I get that. Obviously, you needed a small bit of help [and] we didn't get that. I'm proud of the players, they never gave up.
"What the players will take, they'll take learning. We're playing the level that the Shamrock Rovers are at - it's an eye opener for our lads.
"Our lads are still young, they're still learning the game. I'm proud of them. I'm proud of the support.
It was a big ask for us.The support tonight was magnificent for us."
With a view to the future, O'Brien concluded: "It's gone from strength to strength and it's great but we always want more. Tonight is a tough one to take but it's a good learning from our players."
