Hoops captain Lopes savouring latest 2025 highlight

It's hard to see how Pico Lopes could ever top 2025 after a whirlwind few weeks for the Shamrock Rovers captain.

Last month, the commanding centre-half was part of the Cape Verde that became the second-smallest nation (after Iceland) to reach the World Cup after the islanders beat Eswatini 3-0 at home.

Closer to home, he helped the Hoops – despite a stuttering finish – claim a fifth league title in six seasons and a first domestic double since 1987 was today sealed with a 2-0 win over Cork City at Aviva Stadium, for his second FAI Cup winner's medal.

The crowing glory for the 33-year-old was the recent arrival of baby Diego and, speaking after the match in Dublin 4, admitted it is time to soak in all those momentous moments.

"It’s amazing. To be honest, it’s probably the first time I’ll sit back and celebrate everything because you had to keep your focus on the next goal, winning the league, trying to win the cup. Now we have made history.

"Since Diego was born, at the back of my head I was thinking 'these are the days you want to celebrate with your kids'.

"I’m in a privileged position to be able to do that today."

Asked how he has taken everything in, Lopes said: "I’ve had it easy, I’m the luckiest guy ever to do all this.

"My wife Leah has been amazing, she gave birth to our child and nothing will top that. Nothing will top that, honestly.

"Football was the last thing on my mind this year, it was about getting that baby here safely. Now I can enjoy these moments."

Rory Gaffney's brace proved to be the difference between the sides, his goals breaking down the stubborn resistance of the underdogs after Harry Nevin’s dismissal shortly before half-time.

The experienced Galway man prodded home from close range after mounting Hoops pressure, but his second was a cool finish from an acute angle to put the game to bed as a contest.

"It was a very tough first half," the player of the match said. "I suppose the sending off really changed the game. There was a lot of pressure in the second half and we got our rewards.

"The first (goal) one, I probably shanked it. The second one was a nice finish. I took a touch, and looked to pass it to (Graham) Burkey, but there was no sign of him so I had to take it on."

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