At the end of a season of twists and turns it was inevitable the Friday night’s closing act of this year’s SSE Airtricity League of Ireland Men’s Premier Division would live up to the drama.
The permutations were simple. If Shelbourne won away to Derry City, a tricky task in recent years, they would be crowned as Champions. Ifd not, and Shamrock Rovers beat Waterford, then Rovers would be celebrating a fifth title win in a row.
At Tallaght Stadium Rovers were taking care of a business and as the clock ticked down in Derry it looked as if Shelbourne hopes and dreams of a first title win since 2006 would be dashed at the death.
Derry had hit the crossbar on 56 minutes and maybe that was an indicator that it would be the night for Damien Duff and his side and in the 85th minute of the 36th game of the season, up popped substitute Harry Wood to poke the ball home from an Ian Boyd free kick and send the 300 travelling fans in the far corner of the ground into ecstasy.
There was still seven minutes of injury time agony to go through but the stars were aligned for the side from Tolka Park and at the end those fans spilled out over the barriers to join the players and management in a celebration worthy of the season they had put in.
Damien Duff never needed to get involved as a manager in the league but his doing so has lit it up in a way that could hardly have been imagined.
Having played his career at the top flight in England, and bagged a couple of major transfers worth almost €50 million between Chelsea, newcastle and Fulham, he would have been financially secure enough to do what he wanted on retirement.
The fact that what he wanted was to be involved in Irish football has been a gift to the League.
Initially with Shamrock Rovers and then as part of Stephen Kenny’s coaching team with the Republic of Ireland, he found his natural home at Shelbourne and even prompted the buying back of the club into local ownership when it looked as if the previous short term owner was going to oversee his departure as manager last season.
That faith was rewarded this year and to say he is both a fan favourite and box office is an understatement.
If RTÉ or Virgin media were to put a specific ‘Duff-Cam’ on him on the touchline it would be must watch viewing.
Now he has guided Shelbourne to the summit and back into the mix for European Football next year.
Hi previous colleagues Stephen Bradley at Rovers and Stephen Kenny at St Pats as well as Ruairi Higgins at derry, all of whom came close this season, will be back for more in 2025 and with the League riding as high as it has in living memory, these are special days.
Sport for Business and CapGem will host a special breakfast in the old Dublin Stick Exchange Building on the morning of Thursday November 7th to discuss investment in the League of Ireland. If you are a sport for business member and would like one of a limited number of invitations to join us please email rob@sportforbusiness.com.
