Damien Duff - 'Call me stir crazy but Bohs vs Shels is a bigger game than Ireland vs England'
The former Ireland star has more interest in watching a re-run of his team's Dublin derby than checking out Ireland's Nations League game against the Old Enemy
Damien Duff delivered a stunning putdown to an English reporter last night - claiming the Dublin derby between Bohs and Shels was a bigger game than Ireland’s date with England.
The Shels boss has taken his side to the brink of their first League title in 18 years and last night’s 1-1 draw with Bohs has moved them four points clear with seven games left.
Yet there were only 4,429 at Dalymount Park to watch the two sides battle it out, whereas over 51,000 will pack the Aviva Stadium today.
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When asked by a TalkSport reporter if he planned to enjoy today’s Nations League game, Duff shocked his questioner by insisting "our match was the biggest one in Dublin this weekend".
Duff won 100 caps for Ireland in a glittering career but has bought into the Shelbourne project in a major way.
He said: "I might watch the Ireland game, I might not. I can never get a ticket, I’m not welcome down there.
"The most important thing for me this weekend is watching this (Bohs v Shels) game back. Here people are going to think I’m stir crazy but it’s the biggest game in Dublin this weekend, not England v Ireland.
"I'm a manager now, a coach, I'm trying to make myself better day in, day out, and the most exciting bit about football this weekend was this, not the Aviva. I'll be supporting Ireland. I'm as passionate as anyone but this game here in Dalymount was the most important bit.
"Shelbourne vs Bohs has a fire, an edge, a meaning, a heart and a soul whereas Ireland/England is just an interesting game. Tonight was the biggest game in Dublin. Call me stir crazy if you want."
While far from crazy, some of Duff’s approach work to big games this season has been unconventional as he seeks to find an edge to help his team seal the deal and deliver a first title since 2006.
And that continued this week when he used a conversation he had with his father, Gerry, to motivate his players.
Duff said: "We've had some honest chats. My dad was a big part of the team talk last week, which prodded them. I won't say what he said but it annoyed them.
"So sometimes you can tell people 'guys you're great'. Sometimes you can try to annoy players to get more and my dad played a big part in the three points last week at Oriel Park, believe it or not.
"He asked me something very personal. Something which I passed on to the guys that I knew that they wouldn't be happy with but I knew would prod them immensely. It's a phrase that we used last week and we'll use it to the end of the season."
Duff added: "We'll keep working hard. We'll stay calm. And we'll enjoy the ride."
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