02-05-2025
Matt Healy hoping he'll experience ‘strange feeling' of playing for the away side at Turner's Cross
MATT HEALY is hoping to get the nod to line out against his former club Cork City tonight.
The home game against the Leesiders last month is the only one the midfielder has not featured in since joining Shamrock Rovers from Francs Borains.
The midfielder enjoyed two spells on loan at his local club from Ipswich Town before his move to Belgium.
And all but one of his five Ireland Under-21 appearances at home were at Turner's Cross, giving him extra motivation to feature tonight.
Healy said: 'I think it will be strange enough going back there.
'I'm excited to go back down there and play against them. I haven't done it because I missed the first game.
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'It will be a strange feeling playing at Turner's Cross.
'But we're going there to get three points so that's hopefully what we'll go and do.'
Rovers beat City 4-1 last time out but boss Stephen Bradley said: 'We know it will be difficult. Cork is always difficult.
'They have slightly changed things since we played them last and there's one or two new players in the group. It's a different game.
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'We're under no illusions that we're in for a tough game.'
Healy, 23, has made a good impression in Tallaght since his close- season move and bagged his first goal last week when Shelbourne keeper Conor Kearns was deceived by his shot.
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And he said: 'I think I got a bit of luck when it went in. It was a goal and I'll take it.
'It was a great feeling to get my first goal and hopefully there's more to come.
'I think I've done all right. I've been happy enough to play in most of the games so far and I think I've done relatively OK.
'But there's a long way to go in the season.'
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The 23-year-old has fond memories of playing on Leeside
And, although Rovers are frustrated after taking just two points from three derby games against St Pat's, Bohemians and Shels, gaffer Bradley is not overly concerned.
He said: 'We're in a good place, a really good place, although we're disappointed we haven't got more points from those games.
'We've got to learn from them and make sure we're better for them and it doesn't happen again.
"But overall we're in a good place.'
