Damien Duff: Dundalk will be the most difficult game Shelbourne have had in months
DUFF GAME AHEAD: Shelbourne manager Damien Duff before the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between Galway United and Shelbourne at Eamonn Deacy Park in Galway. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
Damien Duff is expecting Shelbourne’s most difficult game for months when they travel north to take on Noel King’s Dundalk basement battlers.
This is top against bottom but the Reds boss doesn’t see the disparity after the shock, and generally derided, return of King to the League of Ireland dugout triggered a first win of the season for the Lilywhites.
That their Louth rivals Drogheda United – whom they travel to on Monday – also won last Friday tempered the impact of the victory over Bohemians but their predicament isn’t as stark as seemed a week ago.
King was in charge of Shelbourne’s women’s team when Duff was promoted within from U17 level to assume his first senior job in late 2021.
“I told the players this morning that this is the most difficult game we’ve had in months,” said Duff, whose team saw their buffer at the summit cut to two points by Shamrock Rovers winning their games in hand against Drogs on Monday.
“I firmly believe that. With a new manager in Noel King and a challenging surface, Oriel Park is a tough place to go.
“The new manager has rallied them, their senior players all back in, they all played last Friday, they’re playing with an edge and that made the difference. They wanted it more than Bohs and fully deserved that win.”
The Ireland centurion continued to laud the side backboned by stalwarts Andy Boyle and Robbie Benson.
“Dundalk have a lot of quality but their real hunger and desire, along with knowledge of the league that Noel and his assistant Liam Burns and Brian Gartland have is evident.
“We’re not reading too much into the table or their position because it doesn’t show the quality they have all over the pitch.”
Any slippage by Shels on the road can be capitalised on if Rovers prevail in the Dublin derby at Bohs.
“The thing Bohs have always had is in the last few years when you look at their wide players is pace and danger in transition,” said Rovers boss Stephen Bradley, who will be missing Richie Towell through injury.
“You have to respect that and be ready for it. They’ve shown since Alan Reynolds went in as manager, and even before that, the threat they pose that aspect, so we have to be ready for that. It’s all about concentration because we lost a 2-0 lead last season there to come out with a point.”
Galway United have the distinction of symmetry in their first season back at the top table. Ahead of welcoming Derry City, they have lost the same number of games as they’ve won, four, the identical tally of their draws. Only seven goals were scored but they’ve also conceded a mere seven over those dozen games.
Boss John Caulfield has had his sideline ban swelled to five matches, Friday’s being the middle match he’ll be in the stands for.
“Our results aren't good enough,” declared his Saints counterpart Jon Daly, frustrated at the FAI Cup holders sitting in sixth.
“It's about making sure you're solid defensively, and when the chances come at the other end, you're ruthless and you take them. Our biggest problem has been not taking our chances and letting in soft goals, some from set-plays, which is unlike us.
“Everyone is frustrated and I get that - I share the same frustrations, that's football, and it can change very, very quickly. We've got two games this weekend where we can go and put it right and get ourselves back on the coattails of the pack above.”
Bohemians v Shamrock Rovers, Dalymount Park
Dundalk v Shelbourne, Oriel Park
Galway United v Derry City, Eamonn Deacy Park
St Patrick’s Athletic v Drogheda United, Richmond Park
Sligo Rovers v Waterford, Showgrounds.
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