Rory Gaffney is Shamrock Rovers’ Dublin Destroyer and hopes to further enhance his capital gains away to St Pat’s tonight.
The Galway man was the Hooped hero in Friday’s derby clash with arch rivals Bohemians at a sold-out Tallaght Stadium.
With Dundalk drawing away to Shelbourne, that early second-half strike allowed the champions to extend their lead at the top to seven points.
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Gaffney’s scrambled winner was his fifth goal of the season and all five have come against other Dublin clubs.
In March, he also bagged the winner against Bohs in Tallaght before sinking tonight’s opponents St Pat’s with the only goal in April.
Gaffney then scored in a 3-0 win away to bottom side UCD in May before sealing the deal against the Gypsies on Friday.
He said: “They’re nice games to score in but I should have a few more goals. Every striker in the league will say they should have a few more goals.
“So it’s nice even if we’re not banging them in freely, it’s nice when they’re important goals.
“Maybe Bohs are a bit more open than other teams. Other teams can be a bit more defensive against us.
“Bohs have a right good go at you because they’ve obviously got good attacking players.
“You’re always on edge playing against them, because you know if you lose the ball, they’ve got so much pace, they get forward very quickly.”
Friday’s win was emotionally charged for Rovers and manager Stephen Bradley who revealed on Thursday that his eight-year-old son was battling a serious illness.
And it was clear to see what it meant to Bradley on the final whistle as he celebrated with his players and staff members in front of the Rovers fans.
Gaffney, 32, said: “What’s going on in his personal life, you can’t really put words on it.
“If it helps him somewhat, and it helps his family, that we’re able to put a smile on their face, we’re more than happy to try and do it.
“We have to keep going until the end of the season. Friday is gone and we have to move on because we’ve a league to win.
“I know people are talking about Europe and this, that and the other. It sounds boring but it’s Pat’s tonight and after Pat’s it’s Finn Harps and then we’ll worry about Europe.
“Our bread and butter is the league, if you don’t win the league, you’re not getting a crack at the Champions League next season. We know what the priority is.”
St Pat’s are reeling after blowing a lead away to Finn Harps on Friday, with ex-Rovers player Ethan Boyle snatching a 96th minute equaliser in a 2-2 draw at Finn Park.
They are languishing 13 points behind the Hoops in fourth place, but did beat them back in March before losing narrowly in April.
But Gaffney insists focus and motivation won’t be a problem as Rovers face into a second big Dublin derby in 72 hours.
“That’s what we’re paid to do,” he said.
“That’s why it’s hard to win leagues at this football club. When I played for Limerick years ago, this was the first fixture I used to look for.
“You used to play everyone three times a year and you’d be hoping you got Rovers away twice and two nights to come up to Tallaght.
“I want to play here, I think that’s why it’s great to be here - you’ve got big games every week.
“If it’s not a Dublin derby, it seems to be something going on with Dundalk at the minute, and it’s a bit of a cup final and scalp for the other teams, a free hit at us.”
Meanwhile, Tim Clancy admits Friday’s sucker-punch at Finn Harps was tough to stomach.
The Saints boss labelled his team’s collapse as ‘madness’ after surrendering a 2-0 lead with eight minutes to go.
Boyle scored a 96th minute equaliser to deny the Dubliners all three points and they will look to make amends at home to Shamrock Rovers tonight.
Clancy said: "The madness of the last eight minutes overshadows what was probably our best performance of the season in regards to the 88 minutes that went before.
“We were 2-0 ahead and created a number of other really good chances but conceded two late set pieces.
“It probably didn't help with the changes that we made at the time, that we made them late in the game either.
“The two goals were the first two we've conceded from set pieces all year which is very frustrating.”
Clancy is confident that St Pat’s can respond in the right manner in tonight’s derby clash with Rovers.
Richmond Park is close to being sold out and Clancy said yesterday: “We have to try and focus on the positives from Friday night.
“We're hoping that in front of another big home crowd we can repeat the performance that saw us beat Shamrock Rovers 1-0 at Richmond the last time.”
Sam Curtis will have a scan this week on the ankle injury that forced him off in Friday's clash at Ballybofey. Jamie Lennon, Paddy Barrett, Ronan Coughlan and Adam Murphy remain out.
Jack Byrne is out for Rovers while Richie Towell is a doubt.
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