After the cameras had stopped flashing and the media ran out of questions, Michael O’Neill felt confident that he had survived his first press conference as Shamrock Rovers manager without saying the wrong thing.
Then one last question was thrown at him unexpectedly. It was about his knowledge of the FAI Cup and whether he was aware of the importance that the club placed in the competition. He shuffled in his seat, took a few seconds to gather his thoughts and finally delivered a response that satisfied those waiting for him to trip up. It was an early test and he just about passed it.
Having won the FAI Cup a record 24 times, Hoops supporters have built up a strong affinity for it. Forget about the European nights and the numerous league titles, it is the cup that they cherish most. And that is something O’Neill had to learn quickly following his appointment two years ago.
The former Northern Ireland international has since brought a first league title in 16 years to the club after they sealed a dramatic final-day victory. Yet, it is today’s FAI Cup final against Sligo Rovers that means more to certain fans and he is aware of the pressure that comes with that.
“The cup is special to Shamrock Rovers supporters. Since I came here, that has been emphasised to me in many different ways,” says O’Neill. “Last year we drew at home to Drogheda and someone suggested I didn’t understand the cup. My understanding of the cup is that you beat each team as you go through each round. If you get beaten you’re out of the cup. My understanding was not naive. That remark came from left field.
“Last season, we lost in the quarter-final of the cup. People felt we fielded a weakened side because Gary Twigg didn’t play; he didn’t play because had a personal problem. People make statements without having the full facts. From within the club, the cup has been very special. Supporters tend to remember the cup better than the league. It’s a day out and sticks in the memory longer.
“With the league, the fans go through the ups and downs and the heartache. Certainly the rollercoaster we went through in the final quarter, the supporters felt that deeply as well. They can approach the day with a better mood and hopefully we can give them a day to remember.”
Talk of Shamrock Rovers potentially completing a domestic double will spread like Chinese whispers throughout the Aviva Stadium ahead of kick-off today. It is not since 1987 that they last celebrated such a feat and the nerves are beginning to rattle for those with hooped vision. Yet, any expectation of them waltzing their way through this final to pick up the cup would be foolish as Sligo won’t make it easy.
In fact, O’Neill reckons it is Sligo that will carry the favourites’ tag into the game as they are unbeaten in all competitions in their last 11 matches. Or perhaps that is just mind games from the Hoops manager to shift the pressure onto his opponents. Either way, the five meetings between the teams this season have shown that there isn’t a huge gulf between them and claiming victory is anything but a matter of just turning up.
“In many people’s eyes they will be favourites and maybe they deserve that tag,” he says. “If all they had to show for their season was the EA Sports Cup, then maybe there would be a sense of disappointment in their group. Equally, we don’t want to finish without the cup either. We’ll have to deal with them and they’ll have to deal with us.
“This season, we won two and drew two [against them]. Last year, we won four out of four, but we also lost to them in the semi-final of the EA Sports Cup this season. None of those were formalities – they were all competitive and highly fought. In most cases we came out on top and we hope to do that [today].”
Despite ending that 16-year wait to become league champions, O’Neill feels that his team have not been given enough credit. Whether it has been from journalists, neutral supporters or pundits on RTÉ’s MNS couch, there is a suspicion within the Hoops dressing-room that they have been denied the plaudits that their performances and results deserved. It is something that grates with O’Neill.
He cannot believe that his team have not been praised for edging one of the closest title races in recent history, going on a 17-game unbeaten run, performing admirably in the Europa League and making it all the way to the FAI Cup final.
“We can’t control that. All we’re concerned about is ourselves. People will always have opinions about style of play and personnel, but we can’t control that,” he says.
“Sometimes you wonder if there is an agenda but that’s beyond our control too. We’ve had a good experience in Europe, a good experience in the league, got to the semi-final of the other cup competition, and we are in the cup final. There is not an awful lot more a team can do in one season.
“People should recognise that and that it has been done with an essentially part-time team on a modest budget compared to what other clubs have spent in this league to try and bring success. Financially, the club will be in a strong position to move forward next year, equally as important as having nice shiny cups in a cabinet.”
The Hoops may have enjoyed a fantastic year and are just one step away from claiming an impressive domestic double, but O’Neill knows that it won’t be remembered as a truly special season unless they seal a cup triumph.