# 2010 Shamrock Rovers F.C. season

The 2010 Shamrock Rovers F.C. season was the club's 89th season competing in the League of Ireland and the team's second season under the stewardship of Michael O'Neill. The team finished the season as Premier Division champions, narrowly beating rivals Bohemians to the title by virtue of a better goal difference.
Gary Twigg concluded the season as the league's top goalscorer for the second season in succession. The Hoops reached the 2010 FAI Cup Final, the semifinals of the 2010 League of Ireland Cup, the quarterfinals of the 2010 Leinster Senior Cup and defeated Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv F.C. in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League before losing to Juventus in the next round.
The team played a direct style of football throughout the season, with Michael O'Neill generally employing the 4–5–1 formation.

## Preseason

The club made a number of signings during the off-season and preseason in an effort to strengthen the squad. Enda Stevens and James Chambers were signed at the end of 2009, the former agreeing to a one-year contract. They were joined by Chris Turner, Craig Walsh and Billy Dennehy in January 2010, while Dan Murray and Danny Murphy signed for the club in February. The signing of Chris Turner was disputed by Sligo Rovers and eventually sanctioned in March. The team played four preseason friendlies, winning three and drawing one.

## Squad

All players used during the season:
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | NIR | Alan Mannus |
| 2 | DF | IRL | Patrick Sullivan |
| 3 | DF | IRL | Enda Stevens |
| 4 | DF | SCO | Craig Sives |
| 5 | DF | IRL | Aidan Price |
| 6 | MF | IRL | Stephen Rice |
| 7 | MF | IRL | Stephen Bradley |
| 8 | MF | IRL | James Chambers |
| 9 | FW | SCO | Gary Twigg |
| 10 | FW | IRL | Dessie Baker |
| 11 | MF | IRL | Ollie Cahill |
| 11 | FW | ENG | Neale Fenn |
| 13 | DF | IRL | Pat Flynn |
| 14 | FW | IRL | Graham Barrett |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 14 | MF | IRL | Aidan Downes |
| 15 | MF | IRL | Paddy Kavanagh |
| 16 | GK | IRL | Robert Duggan |
| 16 | GK | ENG | Pat Jennings |
| 17 | MF | IRL | Seán O'Connor |
| 18 | MF | NIR | Chris Turner |
| 19 | DF | ENG | Danny Murphy |
| 20 | MF | IRL | Billy Dennehy |
| 21 | MF | IRL | Craig Walsh |
| 22 | FW | IRL | Don Cowan |
| 23 | FW | NIR | Thomas Stewart |
| 24 | DF | ENG | Dan Murray |
| 25 | MF | IRL | Robert Bayly |

### Out on loan

All players loaned out during the season:
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 21 | MF | IRL | Craig Walsh (at Longford Town) |
| 22 | FW | IRL | Don Cowan (at Longford Town) |

### Transfers

All players transferred during the season:
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 11 | FW | ENG | Neale Fenn (Signed in August) |
| 14 | MF | IRL | Aidan Downes (Signed in August) |
| 16 | GK | ENG | Pat Jennings (Signed in July) |
| 23 | FW | NIR | Thomas Stewart (Signed in April) |
| 25 | MF | IRL | Robert Bayly (Signed in March) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 11 | MF | IRL | Ollie Cahill (Released in July) |
| 14 | FW | IRL | Graham Barrett (Retired in September) |
| 16 | GK | IRL | Robert Duggan (Transferred to Drogheda in July) |

## Technical staff

* Coach: Michael O'Neill
* Assistant coach: Trevor Croly
* Goalkeeping coach: Tim Dalton
* Physiotherapist: Albert Byrne

## Premier Division
### Matches

Win  Draw  Loss

### Final Table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Shamrock Rovers (C) | 36 | 19 | 10 | 7 | 57 | 34 | +23 | 67 | Qualification to Champions League second qualifying round |
| 2 | Bohemians | 36 | 19 | 10 | 7 | 50 | 29 | +21 | 67 | Qualification to Europa League second qualifying round |
| 3 | Sligo Rovers | 36 | 17 | 12 | 7 | 61 | 36 | +25 | 63 | Qualification to Europa League third qualifying round |
| 4 | Sporting Fingal (R) | 36 | 16 | 14 | 6 | 60 | 38 | +22 | 62 | Withdrew from league |
| 5 | St Patrick's Athletic | 36 | 16 | 9 | 11 | 55 | 33 | +22 | 57 | Qualification to Europa League first qualifying round |
| 6 | Dundalk | 36 | 14 | 6 | 16 | 46 | 50 | −4 | 48 | |
| 7 | UCD | 36 | 11 | 8 | 17 | 47 | 54 | −7 | 41 | |
| 8 | Galway United (O) | 36 | 9 | 11 | 16 | 38 | 59 | −21 | 38 | Qualification to Relegation play-off |
| 9 | Bray Wanderers (O) | 36 | 6 | 9 | 21 | 35 | 72 | −37 | 27 | Qualification to Relegation play-off |
| 10 | Drogheda United | 36 | 4 | 9 | 23 | 30 | 74 | −44 | 21 | Spared from relegation |
* ↑ Sligo Rovers qualified for the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round after winning the 2010 FAI Cup Final.
* ↑ Sporting Fingal withdrew from League of Ireland due to financial difficulties shortly before the 2011 Premier Division season.
* ↑ Drogheda United were originally relegated but retained there place in the Premier Division after Sporting Fingal withdrew.