In a typical frank press conference by Damien Duff, the manager of Shelbourne rejoiced at being leading the league as they anticipated the game against Bohemians at Tolka Park on Friday. Additionally, the subject of who will take over the management of the Ireland team was brought up again.
Duff perfectly encapsulated the feelings of the nation, stating, “We’ve given it more than enough attention.” It’s been 140 days since Stephen Kenny’s reign came to a conclusion. The FAI suggested that his successor would be revealed by the end of this week.
However, new rumours associating Anthony Barry with the role, in spite of Barry’s contractual ties to Bayern Munich until June and his subsequent team-up with Portugal for the Euros, resulted in Duff pointing out the harm caused to Irish Football by the drawn-out hiring procedure.
“Anthony Barry comes across as remarkable. I’d relish seeing him in action. He appears an exceptional coach; a genuine guy. So, if it’s Anthony, fantastic, best of luck to him. If it’s John [O’Shea], fantastic, best of luck to him. But, to put it plainly, let’s get on with tonight’s women’s [international] match. The League of Ireland is Irish football’s star. I would say the women are on the same level. Can’t wait for tonight’s match.
“I am not avoiding your question, I just …”
Duff then sighed deeply, seemingly as long as the 140 days.
“You might think it paradoxical, but I despise talking, despise superfluous discussions,” he goes on. “I’m sure all of you have had unnecessary chats about the Ireland job, which simply drains you. It unnecessarily wastes the supplies; disrupts a good League of Ireland tale.
“That’s the reason for my long face when asked, I dislike talking. Ask my wife when I get home, I don’t like talking. So, that pretty much wraps it up, because there’s nothing to discuss with them.”
Meanwhile, on a local level, the League of Ireland will penalize Shelbourne on Wednesday following a smoke bomb that was hurled from their fans’ section at Weavers Park in Drogheda last Friday and hit linesman Dermot Broughton. A prospective prohibition on Shelbourne supporters attending away games is currently being considered.
Duff expressed his sentiments saying, “There may be circumstances where we have to weather hardship without the support of our fans, such as the anticipated Galway match. That’s just part of life, having to face challenges alone at times.”
Following an unpleasant incident, Duff extended an invitation to the responsible party, who may be a young person, to visit a training session at Shelbourne. He viewed this as an educational opportunity for the league’s progressively younger audience.
“My anger has since cooled,” Duff shared, “The experience was unpleasant indeed. During that moment, I was both angry and emotional. However, I want to lend a helping hand. Rumours have it that it could have been a lad far too young to be involved.”
“Although he may be feeling a tremendous amount of embarrassment and may have taken refuge, abandoning him is not the answer. I invited him to the training ground not to confront him aggressively but to engage in conversation. I believe he has learnt his lesson. People are quick to condemn, as my initial response suggests, but I also want to extend my assistance.”
Further to this, Duff added, “I am far from perfect, having made numerous errors in my life. Although I myself was critical, my heart is in helping.”
“Nobody would want to attend a game if they don’t feel safe. Such situations cannot persist. Although we are on the receiving end and it’s a problem affecting Shelbourne at present, it’s a broader issue affecting the entire league.”
“The league is riddled with such occurrences. Recalling the recent incidence at LOITV over the weekend, Alex Nolan was on the verge of a serious accident following a superb goal because of a vape. Check it out if you think I’m fabricating this. Similarly, over the weekend, footage from Weaver’s Park shows a large half-filled bottle thrown from the home stand. In shedding light on this, I’m not trying to implicate everyone else, but it’s an issue plaguing the entire league and needs addressing quickly.”
The persistent worries must not eclipse Shels’ outstanding commencement to the season, amassing 21 points out of a potential 27. They’re welcoming their battling local rivals Bohs on Friday at Tolka Park, which is fully booked. Notably, this month the capacity of the stadium is set to expand from 4,700 to 5,700. Standout individual feats haven’t gone unnoticed, as Will Jarvis has been distinguished as the March player of the month, as announced by the Soccer Writers’ of Ireland.