Nov 01,2024
As a player, Damien Duff was used to winning silverware.
His first professional medal arrived in the form of a League Cup win with Blackburn Rovers, months before he captivated Irish soccer fans with his dazzling performances at the 2002 World Cup in the Far East.
Another League Cup in his second season at Chelsea was followed by two Premier League medals, as Duff proved himself as a key component in Jose Mourinho's well-oiled Blues machine.
There were plenty of other big nights too. A run to the semi-final of the FIFA U-20 World Cup with Brian Kerr's talented young Ireland side in 1997. A goal against Barcelona on a big Champions League night at Stamford Bridge. Reaching the 2010 Europa League final as part of an unfancied Fulham side.
All this would pale into comparison though, if the now-Shelbourne boss leads his side to the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division title on Friday night.
Shels can end an 18-year wait to be crowned champions if they win away at Derry City, while a draw would do if Shamrock Rovers don't take maximum points at home to Waterford at the same time.
"I've put my heart and soul into it, not that I didn't as a player," he explained.
"Playing football was second nature to me, since I was that high, I had a football at my feet, so dribbling in an Irish jersey or on a Champions League night wasn't stress to me, it was just normal. Whereas this is totally out of the comfort zone stuff and the hardest thing I've ever done.
"I don't know, I've just invested so much in it. If we win the league, it's not about me lifting it, it's all about the players. They're one hell of a special group. Proper boys, proper men, guys that I'll stay in touch with for many years. I'd be so proud of them."
"If you'd offered me this position at the beginning, I guess I would have taken it. It's an amazing position we're in, going down to the last day of the season with everything in our hands. It's been brilliant, regardless of the rollercoaster ride for myself and other managers, it's been an exhilarating ride for the neutral. It's made the League of Ireland very relevant and very popular."
Up until midsummer, it looked like Shelbourne were marching towards a fairly handy title win but a run of one victory in 10 since the start of the July has allowed Shamrock Rovers to close in.
They have turned their form around in a timely fashion with back-to-back wins while others, most notably Friday's opponents Derry City, have failed to capitalise, making it a two-horse race on the final night.
"Everyone's had their dips, numerous dips, our one gets a lot of coverage because it was recent but we're well out of it, believe me," said Duff.
"Outside of that, in the last few months we've lost big players. It sounds bizarre, we're top of the league and we're looking for our best team, our best formation. It took us a while but we found our feet again. We're in brilliant form and relishing the task."
Shelbourne are one of the best-supported clubs in the league and are managed by one of the most famous football people in the country.
It is easy to forget, therefore, that this is only their third consecutive season back in the top flight, their longest stretch since they were last crowned champions of Ireland in the mid-2000s.
Their first season back ended with FAI Cup final defeat at the Aviva, the second with qualification for Europe. The third may well finish with the league trophy and Duff knows how much that would mean for one of Dublin's great sporting establishments.
"Where the club was at three years ago, a cup final and then Europe, amazing nights, you can't get a ticket now for Tolka Park now," he said.
"Like it says on a lot of the banners around here, a Dublin institution, a massive, massive club. To have the title back here would be special, it would be priceless."
