From the roaring stands of Tallaght to silencing fans at Stamford Bridge, Shamrock Rovers’ 2024-25 season was one of stark contrasts—domestic heartbreak met with European adventure. In this powerful collection, photographer Jon Daczkowski captures the essence of the Rovers’ journey, focusing not on the results alone, but on the lifeblood of the club: its fans.
Rovers may have lost the title to their historic Ringsend rivals, Shelbourne FC, but they made history elsewhere, becoming Ireland’s most successful team in European competition to date. From unforgettable victories in Belfast and Tallaght to a proud fight on the road against European giants, this was a season that will be remembered not just for its results, but for its atmosphere and passion.
Words and photos by Jon Daczkowski.
From the ecstasy of four-in-a-row to the disappointment of just coming up short, but not everything was doom and gloom.
On the last day of the season, Shamrock Rovers lost the league to Ringsend (an area of Dublin where both clubs were formed) rivals Shelbourne FC, but perhaps that story was overshadowed in our context by the fact Rovers became the best Irish team in Europe to date with 11 points on our tally.
Qualifying for the Conference League came through falling out of the Champions League and Europa League qualifications after some wins and losses against Sparta Prague and PAOK respectively.
Though the league season was something to forget, our European run was something impossible to forget. Wins against TNS, and Borac Banja Luka, and a late draw against APOEL Nicosia (all in Tallaght), but these weren’t the highlights if you ask me. It was the 4-1 trashing of Larne in Belfast, a game which made news across the island, for its political connotations and the fact Rovers were rampant both on and off the pitch.
More highlights came when Rovers would travel to Vienna for the next away trip, to the Weststadion of Rapid Wien. Johnny Kenny brought a point back to Ireland with his equaliser against the Austrian giants. The fans in the away section, including myself all felt as if we had just won the game.
We lost heavily to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, as fans we couldn’t have felt anything but positive about that day. We had already essentially qualified for the knockout playoffs, and a point would’ve taken us further. But Rovers in London is a different mindset, a callback to 2011, versus Tottenham at the old White Hart Lane. Thousands of fans in London, having the time of their life, playing against these big clubs that are seen as monoliths of modern and or European football.
Despite a loss, we were proud, not only of the players but of ourselves. Stamford Bridge had been quiet, the roughly 3000 of us out-singing the Chelsea fans in the 90 minutes. Rebel Songs, and singing about Rovers’ cult heroes were all to be heard.
The European dream came to an end when we lost to Molde in the playoffs via a penalty shootout, but we still anticipate Europe and what’s to come in the next campaign.
There was a similar sadness to losing the league, being out of Europe after what felt like we had a chance at the knockout was different. It was solemn, the club and the fans had represented themselves so strongly on the European front, doing something no other Irish club has done.
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