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The Irish Sun
5 hours ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘It's a week on the gargle' – Damien Duff slams LOI mid-season break after half-time rant in Shelbourne draw vs Cork
DAMIEN DUFF let loose on his Shelbourne players with a half-time tirade during their 1-1 draw against Cork City. A fan video from outside the Turner's Cross changing rooms caught some of Duff's 'ranting and raving' through an open window after a below-par first half. 2 Shelbourne drew 1-1 with Cork City Credit: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile 2 Damien Duff slammed his team's performance Credit: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile Duff said of his half-time rant: 'I haven't done that in a long time, and I wasn't planning it, but sometimes you are driven towards it. 'You can talk tactics and subs, but sometimes when a manager vents, it's for themselves. That wasn't for myself. It was to get a reaction out of them. 'Does it usually work ? No. Did it work in the second half? We were better. Was it because of that? I don't know. Read More on Shelbourne 'It could have been the subs. It could have been our application. 'The first half wasn't a Shelbourne performance. It wasn't a performance befitting champions. 'To win a league again and be up there or thereabouts again, you need a bigger edge. Everything has to be better than the year before, and it hasn't been. That's why we are where we are.' Duff also admitted that he 'fought tooth and nail' with some of his players over their holidays . Most read in Football When asked about the mid-season break, he replied: 'I have never liked it. The flipside is it has come at a good time for us as it's a time for reflection, but I don't like it. 'There's an air of the jolly boys out. They are meeting at the pub in the terminal. It's a week on the gargle. That's not the football education I had in Shelbourne manager Damien Duff gives sweet birthday shoutout to his mother after his side's draw against St Pat's 'People probably think I am unfair saying it. I think it's ingrained in the culture here. It's ingrained in my guys. I fought tooth and nail with my guys. I am not happy with some of my guys on it, but that's for another day. 'But they have had a different football education to what I've had. I was taught differently, and that's why it doesn't sit right with me.' At the league's halfway mark, fifth-placed Shels remain nine points behind front-runners He stressed: 'There's a long way to go. We are still alive and kicking. We still have a heartbeat, and I know it because they are great guys. 'We have certainly dropped a lot of points along the way with basic individual errors when we have dominated games. Different story here. 'I love challenges. It gets me excited. If it doesn't excite our players and the club, the second half of the season, be it the FAI Cup, Europe , or chasing Rovers down, then they are in the wrong place. 'Nine points is a pretty big gap, but if you have a decent fortnight in the League of Ireland , you can claw it back. 'I wouldn't say it's a big challenge. I have always embraced big challenges. Taking over Shelbourne Football Club was a hell of a big challenge. 'Cup final the first year, Europe the second year, won the league the third year. They are big challenges, but we overcome them, because that's what we do.' SUBS STANDARD For the second time in the past month, Duff made a triple substitution at half-time, including the return of Paddy Barrett in defence. Duff warned: 'It could have been more. Absolutely could have been more. 'We can't waste 45 minutes. We talk about not wasting a moment, an action, you can't waste a half of football. 'It's a common theme here: if you waste a half, you are coming off. 'They are not decisions which should make you nervous or afraid of giving the ball away. When lads come off lacking energy and spark, and there's a flatness about them, that's why. 'Unbelievable quality all week, and then maybe they thought they could roll into Turner's Cross and turn Cork over. It doesn't happen like that in Turner's Cross. 'Maybe they have stopped listening, I don't know. Sure, we got a reaction in the second half, and even in the first half, you can say we showed resilience getting in at 0-0 because the fire was coming.'
RTÉ News
6 hours ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
'A week on the gargle' - Damien Duff slams mid-season break
Damien Duff let loose on his Shelbourne players with a half-time tirade during their 1-1 draw against Cork City. A fan video from outside the Turner's Cross changing rooms caught some of Duff's "ranting and raving" through an open window after a below-par first half. Post-match, the Shels supremo suggested his side "probably had one eye on Dublin Airport and not on the game" ahead of the mid-season break. Duff said of his half-time rant: "I haven't done that in a long time, and I wasn't planning it, but sometimes you are driven towards it. "You can talk tactics and subs, but sometimes when a manager vents, it's for themselves. That wasn't for myself. It was to get a reaction out of them. "Does it usually work? No. Did it work in the second half? We were better. Was it because of that? I don't know. "It could have been the subs. It could have been our application. "The first half wasn't a Shelbourne performance. It wasn't a performance befitting champions. "To win a league again and be up there or thereabouts again, you need a bigger edge. Everything has to be better than the year before, and it hasn't been. That's why we are where we are." Duff also admitted that he "fought tooth and nail" with some of his players over their holidays. When asked about the mid-season break, he replied: "I have never liked it. The flipside is it has come at a good time for us as it's a time for reflection, but I don't like it. "There's an air of the jolly boys out. They are meeting at the pub in the terminal. It's a week on the gargle. That's not the football education I had in England. "People probably think I am unfair saying it. I think it's ingrained in the culture here. It's ingrained in my guys. I fought tooth and nail with my guys. I am not happy with some of my guys on it, but that's for another day. "But they have had a different football education to what I've had. I was taught differently, and that's why it doesn't sit right with me. "At the league's halfway mark, fifth-placed Shels remain nine points behind front-runners Shamrock Rovers. But Duff insists his side are not out of contention. "There's a long way to go. We are still alive and kicking. We still have a heartbeat, and I know it because they are great guys. "We have certainly dropped a lot of points along the way with basic individual errors when we have dominated games. Different story here. "I love challenges. It gets me excited. If it doesn't excite our players and the club, the second half of the season, be it the FAI Cup, Europe, or chasing Rovers down, then they are in the wrong place. "Nine points is a pretty big gap, but if you have a decent fortnight in the League of Ireland, you can claw it back. "I wouldn't say it's a big challenge. I have always embraced big challenges. Taking over Shelbourne Football Club was a hell of a big challenge. "There's an air of the jolly boys out. They are meeting at the pub in the terminal. It's a week on the gargle. That's not the football education I had in England" "Cup final the first year, Europe the second year, won the league the third year. They are big challenges, but we overcome them, because that's what we do. "For the second time in the past month, Duff made a triple substitution at half-time, including the return of Paddy Barrett in defence. "It could have been more. Absolutely could have been more," said Duff. "We can't waste 45 minutes. We talk about not wasting a moment, an action, you can't waste a half of football. "It's a common theme here: if you waste a half, you are coming off. "They are not decisions which should make you nervous or afraid of giving the ball away. When lads come off lacking energy and spark, and there's a flatness about them, that's why. "Unbelievable quality all week, and then maybe they thought they could roll into Turner's Cross and turn Cork over. It doesn't happen like that in Turner's Cross. "Maybe they have stopped listening, I don't know. Sure, we got a reaction in the second half, and even in the first half, you can say we showed resilience getting in at 0-0 because the fire was coming."
Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Stuart Byrne column: Already a case of 'catch us if you can' for Shamrock Rovers
Is there such a thing as a good - or bad - time to go top of the table? It's a matter of perspective as it depends on which team it is and at what point of their season. Drogheda were leading the way for a chunk of the year - a club transitioning from part-time to full-time and not expected to challenge, despite winning the FAI Cup. Going top was a good thing for them, at a good time, as it breeds confidence and energy into their team for the rest of the campaign. It also increases expectation, which is a good thing, too, once it's reasonable and realistic expectation. It can only benefit them this season, but that might have a knock-on effect for next year. Shamrock Rovers moving into a six point lead at the top is a different animal altogether. Rovers are a team fully tuned into the length of a season and have the experience of knowing when to peak at the right time. They know how to manage the marathon distance of a title race, they know how to deal with the demands on players, staff and fans. And that's why going to the top now is pretty ominous. But this is not Shamrock Rovers laying down the gauntlet. Far from it. They are merely doing what they have become conditioned to do over the last five or six years. They won't be gloating about their position, they won't be rubbing it in anyone's face. They'll just go through the motions and keep doing what they do. Click this link or scan the QR code to receive the latest League of Ireland news and top stories from the Irish Mirror. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. We're hitting the strange part of the season of summer breaks, European games and FAI Cup matches completely disrupting the flow of league games. That's why tonight's round of matches are so important for the chasing pack who have been set a challenge by Rovers. As the reigning champions, Shelbourne have to get rid of their gremlins and put their best foot forward. There's been a lot of hype around St Pat's and they have the capability to win most games when they're on song. But they haven't been singing lately. Shels go to Cork and St Pat's travel to Sligo and I reckon both are winnable games. They have to win to send out a reminder that they're waiting in the wings. I was very lucky to win leagues as a player. And I did that by the only way I knew how - pure hunger. You can have all the talent in the world but it counts for absolutely nothing if you're not hungry. Football is a highly conditioned game and to win things you have to be at your best physically and mentally - but above anything it's the hunger game. Shelbourne had no right to win the league last year, but they had more will to win than anyone else. It's a very simple formula. That has provoked a response from Rovers this year, but am I surprised? Not one bit, because that's what good teams do. A pet hate of mine is people who overlook very good players and tell you about others who could have been much better, were it not for this, that and the other. You know the types. 'My mate had trials with this team and that team', or 'such and such is a good player but his brother was even better, he was just too fond of the booze'. It's all hearsay and shows complete disregard for the achievements of the players who actually got out there, rolled up their sleeves and made a success of it because they wanted it. And again, that boils down to hunger. Some lads wanted to be successful footballers, others talked a good game. You see it in the Premier League with Manchester United. There's no hunger at play and I can't believe what I'm seeing and people are tuning out of this nonsense. It's very simple, people identify with hungry players and Shamrock Rovers have it back. Now it's up to the rest to prove they have it too. Reynolds adopts weight and see attitude I love that Alan Reynolds has weighed his Bohs players before they jet off to the sun this weekend. It's a little reminder to rein in the partying before they step back on the scales on their return. You know I hate this break and I guarantee you that three or four teams won't turn up tonight because their players are already thinking of sunnier climes. I suspect the four teams in Europe will have a different approach as they are building towards something significant not too far down the line. But I was interested in Rennie's comments this week about trying to strike a balance between sports science and trusting his own instinct on player conditioning. Of course players keep themselves fit, but are they doing it for the right reasons? Is it more for vanity and self indulgence, rather than being the best footballer they can be? I honestly think there is too much emphasis on the physical conditioning of players and not enough on mental strength and mental resolve. As a player, you need to go to dark places psychologically. It might be an injury, or some things aren't working out at home, or maybe you've a child who is unwell and you're still expected to go out and perform. Going into the gym to stare at yourself in the mirror for 45 minutes might tick a box but it doesn't prepare you for battle. Rennie referenced how in his playing days his 'gym work' was working on the drinks truck and lifting kegs and crates of beer up and down stairs all day. I know other players who worked on building sites, and another who was a window cleaner. I'm sure they didn't want to be lugging bricks around all day, or hanging out of ladders but I know for a fact that it conditioned them mentally. There should always be doubt in a player's mind and a wall to climb over. It's supposed to hurt. In today's professional environment, the players want for nothing but have they become completely detached? Do they know how to overcome adversity? If everything is provided for you, and if it's too easy, then what's left to fight for? You're just doomed to fail. Fight or flight There's no way Stephen Bradley wants to prevent Michael Noonan and Victor Ozhianvuna going to the U17 World Cup in Qatar. But he's not going to call it now - and nor should he. As the November finals fall outside of the traditional international window, Ireland boss Colin O'Brien is relying on the good will of managers to release his best players. But Rovers' final league game is not until November 1st - which is only two days before the start of the World Cup. And that's not to mention the FAI Cup final on November 9. By the end of a season, clubs are usually down to the bare bones with injuries and suspensions so you can't make a decision until closer to the time. But we live in a small world and nothing is ever more than a flight away. So I've a one-word answer for Colin O'Brien's problems: Emirates. September Study As a retired footballer, I'm worried about dementia. I headed the ball a lot, I was knocked unconscious three times and had multiple concussions, so it's a topic that fascinates and freaks me in equal measure. So that's why I'm delighted to be involved in a Trinity College study into the subject this September. Dr Alan Byrne, such a familiar face on the football beat for years and years, contacted me about it to see if I'd have any interest. It's a two-day study on retired footballers, GAA and rugby players aged between 30 and 59. All sorts of testing will be carried out from brain scans, ECGs, cognitive tests, blood tests, you name it. I think it's a really important and worthwhile study and I'm delighted to play a small part in it, even if I'm genuinely spooked by it all.
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Remembering the greatest League of Ireland team of all time
David Crawley remembers the biggest game of his career. He had just turned 27, was in the second year of his contract, commuting from Dundalk to Dublin every day with nothing bar a dream in his head and a pair of boots in his car. Shelbourne had given him a chance, and now, here he was, fulfilling it. Deportivo La Coruna were the opposition, a place in the group stages of the Champions League the prize. Read more: 'It's just to threaten them a little so they behave themselves' - Bohemians boss Alan Reynolds Read more: Ireland international Robbie Brady makes decision on club future 'This could change your lives if you win,' the team were told the night before the second leg of that game at the Riazor Stadium on Spain's northwest coast. The person addressing the team was Shels secretary Ollie Byrne, a dreamer if ever there was one, but now someone who was seeing his vision turn into a reality. 'When people talk about the greatest League of Ireland teams that there have ever been, the same names come up time after time,' Crawley says. 'You hear about Shamrock Rovers in the '80s, the Shamrock Rovers side now, the Dundalk team under Stephen Kenny. 'But that Shelbourne team that Ollie Byrne and Pat Fenlon put together was something else. 'We had quality players fighting for each position. 'And in Pat we had one of the best managers the League has ever had. He was passionate, driven, prepared, organised, clever. I loved playing under him and was lucky to have played for so many great managers: Jim McLaughlin, Dermot Keely, Martin Murray amongst others. 'Pat and I clicked. 'Plus, the big thing is, he gave me memories that I will never forget. 'And it is only when you retire that you appreciate what you had. No one can take away either the memories or the medals. 'No one can take away what we achieved that summer in 2004, that European run when we defeated a tough Icelandic side (KR Reykjavik) in round one, Hajduk Split in round two, and then faced the previous year's semi-finalists in round three. 'With half an hour to go in the second leg of that game, we had a chance to go 1-0 ahead. I'll never forget it because I was involved in the build-up to it, playing a one-two with Ollie Cahill, crossing it in for Jason Byrne. 'Jayo got a great connection to his header but the keeper (Jose Molina) was top class. 'That was our what-if moment. No blame goes on Jason because he was unreal for us, a brilliant pro, a brilliant fella. We were just unfortunate.' And yet they were also hugely lucky that the planets aligned, the greatest team the league has seen put together by one of its finest managers. Together they went on a run, winning three league titles in Crawley's time there, as well as embarking on that European run. Yet that's only one part of his career story. The other parts, the two First Division titles he won with Dundalk, as well as the 2002 FAI Cup he took back to his home town as captain, are equally unforgettable. Success had been like smoke for him; there for him to see and smell, impossible for him to grab hold of. As a kid he went across to Manchester City as a 15-year-old, callously told by the club hierarchy that it would be too late if he delayed his departure another year. Homesickness struck. So he came home and while Dundalk offered a lifeline, his timing was unfortunate, as he was too young to be part of the 1995 league winning side, but too old to still be around when Kenny arrived to rejuvenate the club in 2013. Instead he was there during the wilderness years, suffering two relegations while also winning the Cup and those two First Division titles. Crawley said: 'To be a Dundalk man and to captain the club to the Cup is a massive thing for me, a proud, proud memory. 'I loved my time there.' Yet when they got relegated in 2002 and Shels called, he knew he had to answer it. He says: 'I was scared but I wanted to prove myself because I knew inside my head that I was good enough. 'And it was an amazing experience, regularly being in TV games, winning leagues, playing in Europe. 'I never drank or smoked in my life. I had the right attitude. The game was good to me.' And he was good to it.
Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Ireland boss hopes to head off World Cup club v country row
Ireland Under-17 head coach Colin O'Brien says he will be 'in communication' with clubs over the coming months in a bid to bring as strong a squad as possible to the World Cup in November. Several members of his latest squad are currently playing senior football in the League of Ireland, including Shamrock Rovers duo Michael Noonan and Victor Ozhianvuna. Rovers are in League of Ireland action until November 1, with the FAI Cup taking place a week later. And last year they were still in Europe going into November and December. With the World Cup falling outside of an official FIFA international window - O'Brien will have to rely on the goodwill of club managers to release their players for the tournament. 'It's one we've got to manage and just watch as time unfolds over the summer,' said O'Brien. 'Certain teams might have leagues wrapped up, might be in or out of cups, but look, the World Cup, you want your best players. 'What an opportunity to showcase individuals from our clubs in this country as well. For me, you won't get a better stage for young players. But it's something I'm very aware of and I will be in communication with clubs. At the end of the day, the players are contracted to the clubs. But we'll want our best players for the World Cup. 'Hopefully when you're asking me that question in late September, early October, we have more clarity on it.' O'Brien hopes club bosses see the bigger picture when it comes to the World Cup. 'It's historic for this age group, absolutely,' he said, of Ireland's first ever qualification at this level. 'I saw those teams that qualified under Brian Kerr and got to those World Cups, and it can really absolutely kick a player's career on. 'They are on the world stage. You are going to have every confederation, every scout, not just from Europe but from all over the world, looking at all these kids, and we are right in there. 'Of course it can have a bounce for the players, for their career. But as a head coach you have to make sure that it is very important about their player development. 'But any player that comes into our Under-17 set up has to understand that the team is the biggest star, and they all have to come on board with that. 'Of course the player can get a big bounce for their future, and the country as a whole.'
