Former League of Ireland record holder made Sean Gannon medal prediction years ago

Shelbourne legend and former League of Ireland title-winning record holder Owen Heary predicted two years ago that Sean Gannon would end up smashing his tally.

Heary, speaking to the Irish Daily Star in January 2022, after Gannon equalled the seven titles that were won by Heary and late Waterford legend Johnny Matthews, believed that the full-back would claim “nine or 10” league wins.

Gannon is now on the verge of title number 10 - and this time the former Shamrock Rovers, St Patrick’s Athletic and Dundalk man is aiming to do it with Heary’s former side.

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Shelbourne know that a win in Derry on Friday night would secure their first title in 18 years, with Heary the last man to lift the league trophy with the Tolka Park side.

They are two points clear of second placed Shamrock Rovers, so could still win the league with a draw or defeat as long as the Hoops don’t win at home to Waterford.

Heary, who won five titles at Shels before adding two more to his collection with Bohemians, said ahead of the 2022 campaign that he wanted to see Gannon win as many medals as possible before the end of his career - and set a marker that would be next to impossible to top.

“Best of luck to him. I hope he goes on and gets eight or nine league medals,” he said.

“He’s going to retire a couple of years down the line and he’ll look back and say, you know what, I’ve had a great career, I’ve won this and that, and that’s what it’s about.

“I’ve spoken to fellows who have played the game for 15 or 20 years and they mightn’t even have one league medal. Or they might have one and they think it’s great.

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“So to achieve what he has done is brilliant and I hope he goes on to achieve a lot more. He’s a good young fellow and he deserves it.

“I think the likes of Sean will keep doing well and he’ll keep driving on to get eight, nine or 10 league titles. I’m sure he’ll get them before he retires.”

Gannon, while part of the Shamrock Rovers squad that won the 2011 crown, didn’t get a winners’ medal that year - his first in senior football - as he only made one appearance that season.

His titles came in 2013 (St Patrick’s Athletic), 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019 (Dundalk), and 2021, 2022 and 2023 (Shamrock Rovers).

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