Duff believes Irish players are disrespected by clubs in the UK

Damien Duff adopts his own zero-tolerance policy to any suggestion of a gateway to a snappy exit by handlers.

DISREPECTED: Damien Duff believes that Irish players are not treated with the respect they deserve by UK clubs. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

“We’re playing St Pat’s on Friday, by the way,” were Damien Duff’s parting words at the end of a press briefing for a match that didn’t get a mention.

Duff and Shelbourne are a serious combination, their unified endeavours lifting the Reds into European qualification, but the centurion and two-time Premier League winner holds views extending beyond matters on the Tolka Park pitch.