Stephen Bradley hails Shamrock Rovers players as knockouts beckon

Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley said his side fully deserved a draw after securing a famous point away to Rapid Vienna, a result which guarantees their progression to the knockout stage of the Conference League.

After a torrid first half, in which they were fortunate to reach the dressing room only one behind, Rovers equalised almost out of nowhere early in the second half, with Johnny Kenny diverting Josh Honohan's low drilled cross inside the far post.

Emboldened, the Hoops were easily a match for their Austrian hosts from then on, and while there were still some nervy moments, the away side could as easily have nabbed a winner, with Kenny missing a couple of chances late on.

The result means Bradley's side remain unbeaten with eight points from four games - as good a showing as they could have imagined - with matches against Serbian outfit Borac Banja Luka (at home) and Chelsea (away) to come next month.

We know now that they are destined to become the first League of Ireland side to reach the knockout stage of a European competition, with a spot in the knockout phase play-offs assured.

Asked to account for the transformation after half-time, Bradley said they had spoken about being more positive and penetrative in possession at the break.

"I thought in the first half, we were too negative in and out of possession. We spoke about it at half-time," Bradley told Premier Sports afterwards. "I felt we were better in the second half in every aspect and I feel we fully deserved the draw.

"Our press had to go another 10 yards up the pitch. There were opportunities in the first half to press and we didn't take them.

"And also in possession in transition in the first half, we were too negative. As a result, they pressed us.

"In