Bradley: If we perform like that, we'll be right there

Stephen Bradley remained in bullish and upbeat mood despite his side's 2-1 loss at home to Derry City.

Despite a dominant first half display, the champions slumped to their first home defeat in the league for 22 months against last season's runners-up, but the Hoops manager was inclined to treat the result as an imposter.

"I thought we were very good, really good," Bradley told RTÉ Sport afterwards.

"It was probably the best we've been either this season or in the last 10 games of last season - domestically I mean.

"We've given up two chances from two mistakes and they've punished us. Sometimes, that's the way it goes.

"But if we perform like that, we'll be right there. We'll be fine. I really liked it - obviously I don't like the mistakes or the result - but really liked large parts of it."

It's the second season in a row that Shamrock Rovers have made a slow-ish start, though they ended up winning the league once again at a canter. While they have again slipped five behind Derry City early, Bradley reminds people that "we've been here before."

"It was strange - the players are disappointed, we're all disappointed with the result. You don't want to get beaten. But if it was a case that we didn't show up, we didn't play, we didn't run, we didn't have energy, you'd be worried. But we had all that.

"The players said it among themselves in there. We've been here before.

"We're very good at reviewing games very quickly and understanding what happened. What was good, what was bad, what we need to improve. We did that after Sligo, after Drogheda and we'll do it tomorrow.

"If we didn't show what we showed tonight, you'd say it was a worry. But I was really, really pleased with tonight. There was so many positive aspects to it. The final