Damien Duff will be at home with Shamrock Rovers

Short of Paul McGrath doing a Bejamin Button and reconstituting himself as the fabled ‘Black Pearl of Inchichore’, it’s hard to think of an Irish footballer whose appearance in the League of Ireland will generate more genuine delight than that of Damien Duff.

Everybody loves Duffer, as his gaffer was never slow to remind him when he was one of the outstanding talents among Brian Kerr’s kids. And somehow, as Duff progressed to the highest levels of a game that’s hardly uncontaminated by cynicism, he continued to command a public affection that had almost as much to do with his unspoilt personality as with the dazzling talent which made him the kind of wonder winger football fans never tire of seeing.

Even those of us in the media who would have grown frustrated with any other Irish player who declined the dubious charms of our company on a regular basis, were prepared to make a special allowance for Damien.