Damien Duff hoping Shelbourne injuries ease and new system clicks for St Pat's clash

RTÉ News​

09-05-2025

In a league as tight as this year's Premier Division, it seems at times that the table tends to lie.
Shelbourne, the reigning champions, sit seventh after 14 games - a position that, at first glance, suggests stagnation.
But underneath all that, you can see a team that is evolving, maybe struggling to adapt at times due to injuries to key players, but perhaps they are a team simmering just under the boil.
Four wins to their name paints a picture of underachievement.
Damien Duff will know better than anyone that his team's current form isn't good enough.
Their form has dipped, no wins in five, but the performances haven't always reflected the results.
They sit only five points off top, two good weeks and they could be right back in the mix.
Shelbourne's transformation since Duff took over at Tolka Park has been one of the more compelling projects in Irish football.
Last season's title win wasn't built on flair or glamour but on structure, consistency and belief.
What we're seeing now is a team trying to stretch beyond that: to evolve from hard-to-beat to hard-to-stop.
Duff is trying to reshape their identity.
The hallmark traits of defensive organisation and tenacity are still present most of the time, but there's a growing flexibility in how Shels approach games.
They can go direct or dominate the middle third; they can play through the lines or push two up front.
When Ellis Chapman plays - adding a third man into midfield - they often control proceedings. He offers them a different dimension in attack from a deeper position.
Shelbourne's recent wobble cannot be separated from their injury list. Sean Boyd and Sean Gannon, key figures last season, have been missing.
Paddy Barrett, whose absence is considerable, brought a sense of calm and assuredness to the defence. His leadership, especially when under pressure, gave the group composure.
Without him, there's been a softness exposed. Shels have been conceding the type of goals they simply didn't give away in 2024.
This year's squad, despite being more talented on paper, has lacked continuity due to those missing bodies.
Mark Coyle has even had to deputise at centre-back recently, robbing the midfield of its enforcer and organiser.
Daniel Kelly only made his debut in the loss to Waterford this week - a game that summed up their season to date.
The emergence of Mipo Odubeko has been a welcome development for them.
Athletic, intelligent in his movement, and now chipping in with goals, he has provided the platform for Shels to play higher up the pitch.
The ability to go with two up front has helped them shift momentum in games. John Martin, often introduced late on to support Mipo, has been useful.
When Boyd returns, that duo could rival any strike partnership in the league.
The depth is there. Kelly will add pace and experience once match-fit, and Chapman, Kerr McKinroy and Coyle can form a midfield trio capable of going toe-to-toe with any in the division.
A cornerstone of last year's title charge was the form of goalkeeper Conor Kearns. Lately, however, he has looked short on confidence. A few uncharacteristic errors and flaps at crosses have crept in.
Duff will be desperate to restore him to his best because a solid base is essential.
With Barrett gone and makeshift defences on show, a vocal and in-form Kearns is more important than ever.
Because the margins in this league are so thin, stopping the concession of soft goals is priority number one.
A clean sheet or two could very well spark a run that sees Shels bounce back into contention.
Shelbourne may have slipped to seventh, but context matters.
Injuries to key players, the bedding in of new ones, and a more competitive league across the board have created a turbulent start.
But there's substance to this side. The evolution is clear. Duff isn't just building a team, he's building a system, an adaptable one, and the early signs of that have shown positive signs.
There are rough edges, sure. But there has to be belief too. Shels are just five points off top spot. In a campaign where no one is running away with it, that's a manageable gap.
So while the league table might make for slightly uncomfortable reading at Tolka Park, the feeling around the club shouldn't be one of despair.
This is a team still finding its rhythm - and they will be hoping it clicks against tonight's opponents in St Pat's, which was the fixture last season that provided us with one of the best games we've seen in the league in many years.