Damien Duff: 'It’s probably the biggest game at Tolka Park for 20 years'
Shelbourne manager Damien Duff before the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between St Patrick's Athletic and Sligo Rovers at Richmond Park in Dublin. Picture: Stephen Marken/Sportsfile
Europe is over, the FAI Cup parked and the objective consuming Damien Duff is finishing out Shelbourne’s season with a first title since 2006.
Monday’s meeting with second-placed Derry City will have a bearing, albeit not the decisive one.
Worst-case scenario for the Reds, come full-time at Tolka Park, is sharing that lead – with still a game in hand.
Most observers expect this title race to be decided on Friday, November 1, the night the contenders complete the campaign by facing each other at the Ryan McBride Brandywell.
“It’s probably the biggest game at Tolka Park for 20 years,” beamed Duff, finally unashamedly admitting the title is within their destiny.
“We’ve been waiting a long time for this so we can’t let it pass us. Maybe Derry have bigger names who’ve dealt with these occasions in the past but at some stage our guys have to stand up and be counted.
“We’ve done that over my time here against all odds – be it reaching the FAI Cup final of 2022, then qualifying for Europe and staying top of the table.
“Business ends of the season and life is what people remember. I want our players to be remembered.”
While Shels spent the last fortnight jostling with Swiss powerhouses, FC Zurich, Derry have enjoyed unintended downtime. Unlike the Dubliners, City were scalped by Gibraltarian opponents at the first hurdle of the Conference League and with that idleness came an opportunity to reboot and expand their options by returning players from injury.
“There’s a real Freshness around the squad,” said Derry boss Ruaidhrí Higgins.
“Ronan Boyce is close to coming back but Patrick McEleney is not there yet. We’re going to Tolka with the intention of winning the game but will it be the deciding factor for the title? I don’t think so, with 33 points left to play for. Shamrock Rovers are far from dead and buried in this title race and another few clubs are creeping up.
“Shelbourne are a smashing team who’ve been excellent all season. They were known for being defensively solid but now have an embarrassment of riches at the top end of pitch. Signing four big hitters during the recent transfer window made clear what they’re intentions are and they’ve been a much more rounded team.”
Duff showed his priorities by resting a number of his regulars for last Thursday’s game against Zurich in a tie that was effectively buried from a 3-0 thumping in Switzerland.
Encouraging signs were apparent in the scoreless draw at Tolka but if their league ascent from the start of the season bred complacency it was shredded by the European leveller. A byproduct of seeing out this mission of a crack at the superior level of Champions League in 2025.
“It was a wake-up call if we were thinking: 'I'm not a bad player, I'm quick, I'm this and that and that'. Players get carried away but come away from Zurich, everybody knew we had to be better.
“If you are going to be better, then the best time is the run-in for the league and Cup.
“We're top of the league but it's a reset button. It's not a time to be scratchy with form or inconsistent – only the time to be absolutely on the top of your game because these are the best days of your life. Have no regrets.”
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
