Stephen Bradley hails 'incredible' Gary O'Neill on return 12 after cancer diagnosis

Stephen Bradley has heaped praise on Gary O'Neill after the Shamrock Rovers star made his return to action 12 months to the day since he was diagnosed with testicular cancer.

The midfielder made his emotional comeback in the closing stages of Shamrock Rovers' 4-0 win over Sligo Rovers on Friday night, a victory that wrapped up a sixth league title in seven seasons for the Hoops as Bohs and St Pat's both faltered.

O'Neill revealed in April of this year that he had gotten the all-clear after his initial scare the previous October, and has been working hard behind the scenes in an attempt to get fit before the end of the season.

"Incredible, I knew it was close to the year because I remember us getting into the Cup when it all came around, but Mary (Larkin, club sports psychologist) told me before the game and she was quite emotional that it was a year to the day that he got diagnosed which is incredible. and we only had a chat maybe four or five weeks ago maybe longer and he was asking where he was," Bradley said.

"And I said 'you're not ready Gary, you need to just keep working hard and when the time is right you'll be ready,' but he was itching to get back in."

The manager, who has seen his son Josh go through cancer treatment in recent years, has been blown away all season by O'Neil's commitment to the cause, even while undergoing round after round of chemo.

"But to see what he's been through and how he's handled it, how he's trained, like genuinely I think there 10 days all-in that he wasn't at training. He was up training when he was on heavy chemo , really bloated obviously, drained and we were being guided by him and the doctors, and they said they'd be guided by him and he's up and running around the pitch and you're like.... incredible, incredible character, strength to come in every morning. I had seen with Josh the effect losing your hair has on men in particular and that was a big thing for him.

"He just faced every hurdle, next challenge, next challenge and even through his really bad times like struggling with his chemo and didn't react to his body, he was in training."

Continuing, Bradley said, "There was times he wasn't allowed in the building with infection, but he was still outside training on his own running around and that's, after what he's done and what he's won he could have been forgiven for saying 'you know what, I just don't want to put myself through this getting back but it sums up what he's about.

"And he's on the pitch tonight, with a few injuries and suspensions, but he's on because he's earned it. he said to me when we had that chat 'I don't want a token gesture, even if we win it with a game left I don't want to start the game.' and that's him.

"And yeah, special. you can see what it means to him, to the group, he's very emotional after the game so yeah incredible, he's been one of the lifers and the ones that we have brought in need to learn from that and understand what it really takes."

"I said to the players before the game that people talk about pressure and trying to win a league, Gary was diagnosed this time last year, what have we got to worry about? your life can change tomorrow.

"This is celebration time, this is go and put on a show, go on the stage and do what we do. If we lose, we lose, we'll all go home tonight, Gary couldn't go home this time last year. Perspective and feels quite emotional so it helps you, helps you as a group to bond and brings us tighter."