Duff content to battle big spenders for top honours

FAILED TAKEOVER: Shelbourne manager Damien Duff at the launch of the SSE Airtricity League of Ireland 2023 season held at City Hall in Dublin. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

IT’S fortunate Damien Duff admits he is an eternal dreamer, for he doesn’t foresee Shelbourne rattling the League of Ireland’s heavyweights on finance alone.

Shamrock Rovers and Derry City, both backed by billionaires, have set the standards in the Premier Division as trailblazers from budgets still expanding.