The riveting run in to the 2024 League of Ireland Premier Division campaign continues at Tolka tomorrow night as the Reds take on Waterford FC (7:45pm KO/.Virgin Media)
Damien Duff’s side took full advantage of the international break to bring recovering players back in the fold. Having been down to 12 senior outfield players for the meeting with Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght Stadium two weeks ago.
Duff told ShelbourneFC.ie that they’re in much better shape ahead of tomorrow’s visit of the Blues: “We’ve had a great two weeks. I don’t usually like breaks, but it came at a good time for the lads. We’ve worked hard; typically, after a break, we play an in-house game or a friendly, but we didn’t do that this time. Instead, we trained hard and I think we got more out of it.”
“We’re up to 16 senior outfield players, only three are missing: Matty Smith (suspended), Sam Bone (calf), and Shane Griffin (calf). Aside from that, everyone is available. JJ Lunney had his first full day back in training this week, and Aiden O’Brien is back too, though his injury wasn’t as straightforward as we hoped, he’s recovered well over the break. It’s great to have the senior boys back with their quality and the presence they have around the place and on the training pitch too.”
The Reds are looking to snap a six game winless streak although Duff knows that recent results have not been wholly reflective of the performances:
“We usually say that good performances, both individual and collective, lead to wins and points, but that hasn’t been the case this time, Sligo and Pats at home, Rovers away, look back on those and the volume of chances we created, maybe at a different time, that one point in 3 games could be 6 or 7 . We actually showed the team all the chances they created today in the meeting.
“Yes, we only got 1 point out of 9, but we’ve created enough to win those games and we deserve more than we’ve got lately. We’ve conceded poor goals. Performance-wise, the lads have played well. They may not go home and watch the games, that’s why it was important to show that to them today. The meeting went longer than usual, because there was a lot of good stuff to pick out. We look at the opposition but we also look at ourselves and review everything. We created a lot, it’s onwards and upwards, it’s just about putting those chances away now”
Duff has backed his players to deal with the pressure that comes with being top of the table going into the final three games:
“The important words I keep emphasising are patience and calm—enjoy the game. I want us to take the first 10 to 20 minutes without rushing or forcing things. There’s no need to push too hard early on; gripping the bat too tight, being nervous, it’s not the time for that. 90-100 minutes is a long time in a game. You can’t win it in the first 5-10 minutes. First and foremost we need to deliver a good performance as individuals and a collective, and then we know where that can take us.”
While on commercial duty for the club this week, two of Duff’s first team squad Kameron Ledwidge and Conor Kearns spent the morning with Shels legends Stuey Byrne and Tony Sheridan, who were able to impart their wisdom on the current crop of Shels stars. Duff feels those kind of interactions will stand to the pair:
“They’re still young men. Kam and Conor, in this position for the first time in their careers, so are many of the squad, so for them to spend some time with people who’ve brought success to this club is great. Too often, if you’ve a couple of bad results, you hear the negative stuff and you don’t want players to start believing it.
Around our dressing room, at our training ground, and at Tolka, it’s all about positivity. For Shero and Stuey to spend a bit of time with the lads yesterday, offering words of wisdom, encouragement, and positivity. It’s exactly what they need and deserve to hear because those players have been amazing all season for this football club.”
With permutations coming into play over the coming weeks and other teams in the riveting race, Duff revealed he has zero interest in anything happening outside of Tolka Park:
“I won’t be looking elsewhere, because if you’re looking at a score elsewhere you are not focusing on our game and our jobs, that we are in control of, there’s been plenty of times this season where I’ve only found out the results after. Sometimes you hear about it from someone near the dugout or sense goals happening elsewhere from the roar of the Riverside but all our focus should be on our own performance.”
Duff knows Waterford are a formidable side: “They’ve been tight games with lots of quality— they had some players who left but they got lads in with great ability, and they have a manager knows the league so well. But it’s all about us for the remaining three games. We always analyse the opposition and make our players aware of their strengths and weaknesses. Yes, we touched on that, but our focus for the next three weeks in everything we do, has to be on us.”
With over 4,000 tickets sold already the game is heading towards a capacity crowd, Duff’s message for those in attendance is very similar to the one he’ll share with his Shels players:
“Just bring your energy and bring your quality. What I tell the players is that I want them to perform. We’re all in this together—myself, the staff, and the fans. Everyone needs to show up. It’s an incredibly exciting time. If anyone’s feeling nervous, now isn’t the time for that, nor for looking elsewhere or dreading these games. I can’t wait, and the players can’t wait either. These are the moments to be savoured.”
