Damien Duff relishing top of the table clash as Shelbourne prepare for Derry trip

Damien Duff says he is relishing the pressure of his Shelbourne side being league leaders.

With 14 games gone, Shels top the table by two points from holders, Shamrock Rovers, and head to Derry on Monday for a first versus third clash.

Duff’s presence in the dug-out, combined with Shels’ return to first place after an 18-year gap, has centred most of the attention on the Drumcondra club this season.

But he insists that isn’t a problem ahead of their trip to the Brandywell on Monday.

Duff said: “I call Derry footballing gods in this country.

“It’s a very dangerous game, a very difficult game, on another difficult surface. But we have got a lot of good memories up there in recent years.

“We obviously believe we can beat anyone home or away. They are a brilliant team and that's why they have challenged in the last couple of years.

“Ruaidhrí (Higgins) took them over when they were a semi-struggling team and has turned them into title-contenders.

“It’s a difficult game but one we absolutely can’t wait for. We haven't had top of the table clashes involving Shelbourne in a long bloody time, so you have to be excited by it.”

For his players - most of whom have overcome rejection elsewhere - this season is rapidly becoming the best of their careers.

Yet after winning six of their first seven games, they have since won just one out of seven.

Are they handling the expectation that goes with being top of the pile?

Duff said: “I think so, I hope so. We don't talk about it an awful lot but I’d like to think they like it at Shelbourne.

“Everyone probably thinks myself and the staff are hard taskmasters but we have created a fun environment as well so I’d like to think they have a laugh.

“Yeah, there is pressure but you are professional athletes playing professional football so, that goes with pressure.

“They are all in good spirits, they are probably a bit disappointed (after last night’s scoreless draw at Dundalk), that they may look at it as two points dropped but here, I’d look at it the other way, maybe a point gained.”

It was a game where Dundalk created the bulk of the chances but one where Shels finished strongest, with Sean Boyd coming close to a winner in the dying minutes.

Duff said: “I thought it was a very controlled performance, professional, but we just lacked that cutting edge. I think it was there for everyone to see, so that’s probably the one real disappointment.”

And there was also a recall for Shane Farrell, who made a positive impact after being introduced as a second-half sub, just two weeks after Duff criticised him publicly following his red card against Shamrock Rovers.

Duff said: “Shane looked a lot fitter than he has and I thought he made a real impact. He was brought on because of the quality he can bring offensively. It wasn't a present (from me to him). He was brought on because he deserved to go on.

“He has reacted fine (to the criticism). It’s all forgotten about. It’s not even a story for me or him or anyone.

“There is no problem. He’s smiling, training really well. We have got the reaction that we wanted and he’s a big part of the squad going forward. It's his club more than my club. He’s one of our own, he’s come through the academy. There are no issues. He went on tonight, did well, but he went on because he deserved to go on.”

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