Stephen Bradley: 'I was hoping Josh Honohan would feature, but decisions are made'

Irish Examiner

a day ago

Stephen Bradley says he would have liked to see Corkman Josh Honohan make his Ireland debut over the past weeks but understands 'decisions' are made regarding selection.
The defender was in line to become the first League of Ireland debutant since his Shamrock Rovers colleague Jack Byrne in 2019 but didn't get on the pitch in either of the friendly matches against Senegal or Luxembourg.
Heimir Hallgrímsson has raised a concern about the player feeling a thigh muscle in the build-up to Friday's second game but despite being declared fit he was left idle.
His Rovers boss Bradley confirmed the absence of the 24-year-old from the teamsheet was a Uefa mix-up and didn't prevent his availability.
'I'd have loved to see him play,' said the manager, who confirmed no fitness concerns around Honohan for Friday's short trip to champions Shelbourne.
Shamrock Rovers' head coach Stephen Bradley was hoping to see Rovers star Honahan get minutes. File picture: Morgan Treacy/Inpho
'You look at our players who were away and the young boys did really well for the international teams.
Any time you have a player who has a chance to represent their country you are really proud, as a club and as a team, we'd like to see all our players represent Ireland when they get the opportunity.
'I can't answer (what happened). I know he had a little knock during the week but other than that he was fine, scans were clear. He wasn't on the team-sheet, that was a UEFA mix-up but he was on the bench.
'I didn't see the game because I was out but I knew he wasn't starting. I was hoping he'd feature, like everyone connected with the club and his family (but) decisions are made. He didn't play and that's the way it goes.'
Bradley only recently healed a public spat with the Ireland boss arising from interpreting his comments as encouraging his players to leave Ireland to further their careers.
He indicated clarity would be provided directly.
'I haven't spoken to Josh or Heimir about it, in terms of how he did or didn't do,' he said the day after the Ireland squad returned from their 10-day international gathering.
'I am sure those conversations will take place in the coming days or weeks.'
Meanwhile, Bradley has revealed he took inspiration from a leadership speech by hurling great Brian Cody.
He retired with a glittering record as Kilkenny manager of 11 All-Ireland SHC titles, 18 Leinster championships and 10 Allianz Hurling Leagues.
Bradley will next year reach a decade of service since taking the job at 32 and was pipped on the final day of last season to an unprecedented five-in-a-row of league titles.
Honohan, 24, made the MNT squad but didn't feature in either Senegal or Luxembourg games. Picture: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
They currently top the table by six points heading into the second half of the season but like Cody has regenerated his team to sustain success.
'Within five minutes, he had the room because he was so special,' he said about the conference held by South Dublin Council.
'It was how he maintained standards and culture. It seemed he was a brilliant person to work with and want to work with.
'To have that sustained over such a long period, there was so much in it that we were talking notes all day. It was gold dust.
'He keep reinvesting and refreshing the squad. He's done that for so long it was important to listen to that and ask questions. There were other people in the room too. We still go through the notes and talk about it.
'I think you have to look at all the codes and learn from the best in their field operating at an elite level.
'It's not just football around the world and Europe. You watch Cork and Limerick go at each other in the hurling last week and it was an incredible level of skill, grit and determination. Tactically it had a bit of everything.
'If you can't watch something like that and learn from the outside, you're doing something wrong. You've got to be open to learning from all codes.'