Alan Mannus equals Shamrock Rovers clean sheet record in all competitions
- Macdara Ferris
- Fri, Mar 10 2023
While Shamrock Rovers are still seeking their first win of the 2023 season, Friday evening’s clean sheet from a scoreless draw against Shelbourne in Tolka Park was a landmark result for Alan Mannus.
The 40-year-old goalkeeper hit the century mark of cleansheets in the league for the Hoops but more importantly it saw him equal the Shamrock Rovers club record of clean sheets in all competitions.
He joins Alan O’Neill on 120 clean sheets for the Hoops.
The 40-year-old goalkeeper has been a crucial member of Rovers’ last five League of Ireland titles – winning two under Michael O’Neill and being part of the current Hoops three-in-a-row side.
He now equals Alan O’Neill’s record – O’Neill was the last Rovers goalkeeper to win a title prior to Mannus which came back in the 1993/94 season when the Hoops were based in the RDS.
Speaking to this writer in October when Mannus was arrowing in on O’Neill’s record and he said: “Alan O'Neill is mentioned a lot at Rovers and I know he is a legend at the club so that is great I’m close to his record (in all competitions). I'd like to get some more clean sheets now, that is what we do as goalkeepers, keep clean sheets, and whenever I finish my career I'll look back on the record with pride.”
Last season Mannus made 200th league appearance for the Hoops and along the way beat Rovers’ cleansheet league record held by Barry Murphy of 97. Murphy had also earned 119 clean sheets in all competitions so Mannus has moved beyond that figure after Friday night (Murphy’s clean sheet tally includes 24 from Rovers’ 2006 First Division campaign).
“I know Barry from when I joined Rovers for the first time. I always thought he was a great goalkeeper and I know how highly thought of he is at this club.
“The brilliant thing about that record of clean sheets is you aren't going to get that total without playing playing 200 games. It ain't a record that you can just come in and do it in one season. You have to put the time in. It is a long term record.
“You could go to a club for one year and get a one season record and that is brilliant but that is all. For me I've been fortunate to be at the club for many seasons. Playing games is a big thing for me and so the record means more for that reason.”
Alan Mannus League statistics
Games played 207
Clean sheets 100
Goals conceded 132
Alan Mannus all competition statistics
Games played 261
Clean sheets 120
Goals conceded 179
About Macdara Ferris
Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl … View Full Profile
