Shane Duffy: Play-off experience ‘100%different’

Shane Duffy puffs out his cheeks and exhales at the thought of clinching World Cup qualification over the next week, fully aware he’ll experience better emotions than Ireland’s last successful tournament tilt.

The 25-year-old may these days be the rock at the heart of Martin O’Neill’s defence but two years ago he reluctantly joined a lap of honour at Lansdowne Road following the Euro 2016 play-off victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Duffy’s sheepishness was natural considering his participation in the campaign was non-existent. He had earned just one cap, that in a friendly 17 months earlier against Costa Rica in the United States.