Episode 15 – Waiting for kick-off | Shelbourne away now the opener
The 2026 League of Ireland season still hasn’t started for Shamrock Rovers. With the scheduled opening night clash against Dundalk postponed due to adverse weather, the Hoops’ league campaign remains on hold, but not for much longer. All roads now lead to Tolka Park next Friday as Shelbourne away becomes the new curtain-raiser .In Episode 15 of The Milltown Way, we react to the postponement and ask whether this unexpected delay changes anything for Stephen Bradley and his squad. Does an extra week help sharpen fitness and integrate new signings like Adam Brennan? Or does it simply extend the frustration after the narrow President’s Cup defeat to Derry City? We look ahead in depth to Shelbourne away, the atmosphere, the edge, and the narrative stakes. Starting a season at home is one thing. Starting it in Tolka Park, under the lights, against a rival who will treat it as a statement night, is something else entirely. This is a shorter episode than usual, but it’s one built around anticipation. The season feels like it’s paused before it has even begun, and that only increases the significance of what now becomes a high-profile opening night in Drumcondra. Will Rovers lay down an early marker? Or will Shelbourne attempt to disrupt the rhythm of another title defence before it gathers pace? The wait continues, but not for long. Subscribe and follow The Milltown Way wherever you get your podcasts.

Episode 14 - We react to Friday night’s President’s Cup defeat to Derry City at Tallaght Stadium, where fine margins once again separated the sides.

We look at what went right, what didn’t, and whether the performance offers encouragement heading into the league campaign. With the League of Ireland Premier Division kicking off this Friday with a home game against Dundalk, we turn our attention to the opening league fixture.

What can Rovers take from pre-season? What should expectations be for matchday one? And how important is a fast start in 2026?

There’s also plenty of transfer chat:

• Michael Noonan looks set to stay put despite strong interest from abroad
• Adam Brennan’s arrival from UCD and what he adds to the squad
• Stephen Bradley’s comments suggesting one or two more signings could still arrive before the window closes

We also take a few minutes to highlight the Shamrock Rovers club lotto, why it matters, and how supporters can get involved in backing the club off the pitch.

To wrap up, we give a shout-out to Leanaimid, the As Gaeilge Shamrock Rovers podcast hosted by 13-year-old Rovers fan Daniel. With eight episodes already recorded and a new season launching on 5 February, it’s another great example of the growing fan media scene around the club.

As always, thanks for listening. You can find The Milltown Way across all major podcast platforms.

Episode 13 - The Milltown Way is back for 2026

In our first episode of the new year, we take a deep dive into Shamrock Rovers’ preparations for the season ahead as competitive action returns with the President’s Cup against Derry City.

We discuss Rovers’ pre-season so far, the business on and off the pitch, and how Stephen Bradley’s side are shaping up after a long and demanding 2025 campaign that delivered a historic double and another European run.

The January transfer window is bringing movement. We assess the arrival of Jake Mulraney, the departure of Darragh Nugent to St Patrick’s Athletic, and what those changes mean for the balance of the squad. We also touch on wider transfer speculation, including interest in Michael Noonan and how Rovers may approach recruitment with European ambitions still firmly in mind.

With the President’s Cup just around the corner, we look ahead to the clash with Derry City, what it represents beyond silverware, and what we want to see from Rovers in their first competitive outing of the year.

To round things off, we zoom out and ask the bigger questions: what does success look like for Shamrock Rovers in 2026? Can they defend their league title, push further in Europe, and manage the challenges that come with being the team everyone wants to beat?

It’s a season reset, a tone-setter for the year ahead, and the start of another busy campaign at Tallaght.

Episode 12 – €400k Secured, Honohan Farewell & Signing Off 2025

Shamrock Rovers signed off their European campaign, and the 2025 season, with a 3–1 victory over Hamrun Spartans at Tallaght Stadium, banking a vital €400,000 in UEFA prize money in the process.

In the final episode of 2025, we review a night that brought both satisfaction and reflection. Goals from Graham Burke, Danny Grant and John McGovern ensured Rovers finished the Conference League league phase on a positive note, even if qualification was already out of reach. We break down the key moments, performances, and what the win says about the squad’s depth and mentality after a demanding year.

We also discuss the confirmation of Josh Honohan’s move to Lincoln City when the January transfer window opens. Honohan’s journey, development at Rovers, and the significance of the transfer for both player and club are all reflected on, as the Hoops say goodbye to one of their standout performers of 2025.

With this being the final episode of the year, we zoom out to assess Shamrock Rovers’ 2025 season as a whole — domestic success, European highs and lows, and what Stephen Bradley’s side can take forward into 2026. We touch on squad evolution, transfer priorities, and the expectations that come with sustained success.

Thank you to everyone who listened, shared, and supported the podcast throughout the year. We’ll be back in January as Rovers prepare for another title defence and a new season ahead.

In this episode, we take a full look at Shamrock Rovers’ European campaign, dissecting their disappointing result against Breidablik and what it reveals about the team’s performance on the continental stage.

We break down the tactical issues, defensive struggles, and squad questions that emerged, while also highlighting the players who stood out and those who struggled. Beyond the result, we reflect on the campaign as a whole, including the home versus away form, moments of promise, consistency challenges, and what it reveals about the squad’s depth and European readiness.

Looking ahead, we preview the final European game against Hamrun Spartans, exploring the financial and psychological stakes, and discuss what lessons Rovers can take into the off-season and into 2026. This episode is a mix of honest assessment, tactical analysis, and forward-looking insight for fans and followers of the club’s European journey.

In Episode 10 of The Milltown Way podcast, we look ahead to Shamrock Rovers’ return to European action as they head to Breiðablik on Thursday evening. We break down the key tactical themes, the threats posed by the Icelandic champions, and the areas where Rovers must improve following the defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk.

We also assess a significant development in the squad: Conor Malley’s loan move has now been made permanent. We discuss what this means for Rovers heading into 2026, how Malley has adapted since arriving in the summer, and the role he can play as the team reshapes its midfield options.

Meanwhile, Conan Noonan has completed a transfer to Waterford FC following his impressive loan spell at the RSC. We analyse his departure, the reasons behind the move, the €50k fee reported by The Irish Independent, and what it says about both Rovers’ longer-term planning and Waterford’s ambition.

With a crucial European night ahead and key squad changes taking shape, this week’s episode dives into the state of the dressing room, the structural adjustments still required, and the significance of December’s fixtures for building momentum.

As always, thanks for listening and supporting The Milltown Way. Full coverage continues across all our platforms in the build-up to Thursday’s match

Episode 9 — Shakhtar, Stevens, Gaffney & the Byrne dilemma

Shamrock Rovers returned to European action on Thursday night, falling 2–1 to Shakhtar Donetsk in a game that raised as many talking points as it answered. In Episode 9 of The Milltown Way Podcast, we break down all the key moments, performances, and decisions from a frustrating but encouraging night in Tallaght.

We dive into:

• The Shakhtar performance — what Rovers did well, where the game slipped away, standout players, tactical shifts, and how the late rally changed the tone of the night.

• Jack Byrne’s situation — loan spell in Dubai, interest from elsewhere, and what his short- and long-term future realistically looks like.

• Rory Gaffney’s future — his form, importance to the squad, the growing expectation he’ll sign a new deal, and what keeping him would mean heading into 2026.

• Enda Stevens returning to Tallaght — confirmation of his move for 2026, what he brings on and off the pitch, and how he reshapes next season’s squad.

• Listener questions — your thoughts, opinions, and concerns after a dramatic European week.

With the season winding down and major decisions looming behind the scenes, this episode covers everything supporters are talking about right now: the European run, transfer noise, squad futures, and the shape of Stephen Bradley’s 2026 team.

Whether you’re still analysing the Shakhtar game or already thinking ahead to next year, this episode has a bit of everything.

Hosted by: Ryan Brennan & Adam Casey

Produced by: The Milltown Way

Episode 8 – Shakhtar Donetsk preview: A European night with real history behind it

The Milltown Way returns for a massive episode as Shamrock Rovers prepare to host Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Conference League on Thursday. With European football returning to Tallaght for the final time this year, we take you through everything you need to know ahead of one of the most intriguing fixtures of the group stage.

In this extended preview, we break down Shakhtar’s season so far, their form in Europe, the evolution of their squad, and the tactical fingerprints they’ve carried from the Champions League into the Conference League. We look at the players who can genuinely hurt you, from the technical midfielders to the pace in wide areas, and the structure that has kept them competitive despite the constant upheaval they face.

We also analyse how Rovers match up:

• What the approach might look like under Bradley

• Where the opportunities to impose ourselves could be

• How the crowd, the tempo, and the rhythm of a Tallaght European night might impact the game

• The little details that matter in matches like this

Alongside the deep dive, we round up the major Rovers stories from the past week, injuries, academy highlights, and notable performances from players representing Ireland at senior and underage levels.

We also answer your listener questions and talk through the buzz building online and around the club as the game draws closer.

This episode is all about atmosphere, insight, and giving supporters a sense of the scale of the occasion. European nights are special. European nights in Tallaght are something else entirely.

Thanks for listening to The Milltown Way, for supporting independent Rovers media, and for sending in your questions every week. As always, keep them coming.