Duff on cusp of career 'pinnacle' with final day victory

Manager Damien Duff during a Shelbourne Media Conference at Tolka Park in Dublin. 

“Maybe it would have been nice to win it on your sofa last Sunday,” pondered Damien Duff on the eve of what he foresees as his pinnacle.

He’s sitting in Tolka Park, initially a stop-off along a playing career which took him to the World Cup and the Euros for Ireland, Anfield and Camp Nou with Chelsea.

This is his mecca now. What he categorises as the best three years of his life could culminate with him bringing the Premier Division trophy back from Derry City tonight.

That would have been the case already, only for Dylan Watts keeping Shamrock Rovers in the equation with a second-half winner at Dundalk.

Duff observed proceedings from his Wicklow base but his instincts informs his preference.

“I think the real place to win the trophy is in the trenches, not in your living room,” he summarises.

Given the champions are expected to continue their revival by beating a Waterford side with nothing to play for, the likelihood is Shelbourne requiring victory themselves.

The final game of the season at the Ryan McBride Brandywell was long billed as the title decider but Derry’s bid for a first title since 1987 perished last week. They’ve only got Sunday week’s FAI Cup final to target for silverware.

History isn’t on the side of Shels to ensure they can’t be caught by Rovers at the post.

Six successive draws were played out between Derry and the Reds before the Candystripes emerged victorious from the September FAI Cup tie.

There’s also the artificial surface factor as an impediment and their abysmal away record – one win since June a narrow single-goal success at relegated Dundalk.

However, on the upside, Derry have only recorded one victory on home synthetic soil since June too and manager Ruaidhrí Higgins insists he won’t risk anyone carrying niggles ahead of their shot at European qualification in nine days’ time. Thus, Shels could be spared the threat of top scorer Pat Hoban.

Ordinarily, a draw on the road against a well-funded Derry team wouldn’t be a bad outcome but it threatens to have the effect of losing the title on goal difference.

Whether it’s in the first or final minute, Duff only has winning in his thoughts. He nor his players have been daunted by that imperative as the days dissolve. Unlike the FAI Cup final against Derry from two years ago, they’re not treating this as a special occasion.

“We’re travelling on match-day and will be back in our beds after the match,” he explained about the six-hour round trip.

“Over the last three years, we travelled the day before to big games but that was alien to the boys. They don’t like it and would prefer to be at home with their loved ones, taking their mind off the game.

“We spoke to senior players as well as the younger boys and they want to treat it like a normal game.

Sean Boyd' experience will be needed if the going gets tough tonight.

“Paddy Barrett, Sean Boyd and Shane Griffin have been around the league donkey’s years – winning titles – and they’ve travelled on the day of the game.

“I’m absolutely fine with that. There’ll be no stress.” Duff confessed he learnt about preparations from that final, a 4-0 loss which still stings.

“Ten days ago, I said you can overthink these things,” he explained.

“We probably gave the players too much detail back then. The sessions and meetings were overloaded with details, as were the private meetings.

“Maybe I and we, as a staff, took it to the extreme and we’ve grown as staff and men that we’ve put trust in our coaching.

“We haven’t overloaded this time; just had a normal week. We’ve kept it simple.” There’s a simple reality to what Shels are on the cusp of.

They were absent from the pre-season title forecasts and yet have led the way from February.

Duff’s profile has accentuated that unlikely story, his sideline passion and fiery prose a constant source of entertainment over the past eight months.

He’s clear in his determination to see it out with the trophy, insisting this Cup final scenario energises him rather than overpowers.

“To get where I want to go, I will fall out with anyone,” he says about his singular focus. 

“I’m happy to do that, as you’ve seen. At times, I don’t like the person you become when you go over the white line. I think you need to have that edge to have success, as an individual or team.

“Right now, believe it or not, I am as cool and as calm as I’ve ever been. The players know that.

“The most nervous person in my life is my wife (Elaine). She's a bundle of nervous energy walking around the house, keeps wanting to talk about permutations and what if this happens, whereas I don't want to talk about football at all.

“There are absolutely no nerves with me. Should there be? I don't know but we are highly motivated for Friday.”