Latest news with #Shels
The 42
11 hours ago
- Sport
- The 42
Duff, Kenny and Bradley face different battles with Europe on horizon
TWO IMAGES STOOD out after Shelbourne's 1-0 win away to St Patrick's Athletic on Monday night. The first was when Damien Duff dropped to his knees and bowed down in front of the travelling supporters at Richmond Park. Those rival fans using this as an attempt to point out his hypocrisy over his row with Stephen Bradley about winning with class were misguided. The Shels boss had no issue with his Shamrock Rovers counterpart celebrating the previous Friday's 2-1 victory at Tolka Park by gathering his squad in front of the away end and saluting them. As also became clear after further inquiries over the course of this week, it wasn't even just that the Rovers players chose to blare the Mauro Picotto tune Komodo (a Shels anthem) from their dressing room while Duff's players began the post-mortem that was the sole source of ire. Other issues along the corridor that houses both dressing rooms, like switching on and off lights and banging doors, was deemed a bit excessive. Duff salutes the Shels fans. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO Regardless, the row among two men who have a shared history as colleagues at Rovers and then League of Ireland rivals that has led to their relationship breaking down was old news by full-time on Monday. That is when the second image, captured just seconds before Duff saluted the fans, caught the eye. Duff made a beeline for Paddy Barrett and gripped the centre back with a kind of intense, teeth-grinding hug. The big Waterford man, who was tied down to a new contract in the weeks prior to winning the Premier Division season, has endured a rotten campaign with injury, a torn quad during an 11 v 11 training game ruling him out for 11 weeks, but his return to fitness just before the mid-season break could not have been more timely. The big man is back and Duff loves him. Advertisement Duff embraces Paddy Barrett. Dan Clohessy / INPHO Dan Clohessy / INPHO / INPHO 'I keep on saying the dirty side but it's a beautiful side, I love it. I feel like we lost that, we went away from that side and just to show that side again I think that was the most pleasing thing,' Barrett said of Shels' ability to put their bodies on the line for the win over Pat's in the second half, after outclassing them in the first. 'Look, nobody said it to me, nobody's pulled it up. I just think it did leave us. And I think that's why obviously results haven't been going our way. We've been conceding sloppy goals, individual mistakes, collectively. That's not us. We grind out results when we need to. Hopefully going forward we can still keep on showing that side when it's needed.' No wonder Duff looked so enthused to have Barrett back in the heart of defence. The European draws over the following two days also brought into focus a new dynamic to the season for three of the most high profile managers in the country: Duff, Bradley, and Stephen Kenny at St Pat's. Even before they drew Linfield in the first round of Champions League qualifying, Duff didn't agree with the assertion that a positive European campaign could energise his players and lead to improved performances domestically. He bristled at such a suggestion and instead chose to put the emphasis on players needing to have the mentality to go and attack every game regardless. Duff already turned down one approach from an English club to discuss their vacant manager's position earlier this season and masterminding the kind of European success that Kenny and Bradley have proven capable of will surely increase the profile of just how impressive a job he has done at Tolka Park. Beating Linfield ensures three ties as a minimum in Europe (due to the champions' path) and would mean the least Shels can look forward to is a play-off to reach the league phase of the Uefa Conference League. That is the kind of forward thinking everyone except managers and players talk about. Duff's stature as a player with Chelsea and others in the Premier League, not to mention 100 caps for the Republic of Ireland, was never something he sought to use a shortcut. He has been earning his stripes since the 6am training sessions with Shamrock Rovers' U15s and there is no doubt that taking Shels into the league phase of European football would bring a different kind of spotlight. Bradley got a sense of that when Millwall came looking for him in the days before Rovers played Chelsea just before last Christmas. They still had the knockout stages of the Conference League to come and a repeat of such an achievement would feel even greater this year given there is no room for error once they start in the second qualifying of the competition against either Cliftonville or St Joseph's of Gibraltar. Other job opportunities have also been passed on by Bradley and he spoke with Off The Ball in a series of interviews recently about ending a video interview with the FAI top brass over the then vacant senior men's manager's job because they were 15 minutes late for the call. That was down to basic respect but also a man who knows his value, and a trust in his ability borne out be achievements that others are aware of it too. He's only just turned 40 and could potentially take charge in a third European group/league with the same club that he has on course for a fifth league title in six seasons. By any metric that is a clear indication of a managerial star on the rise, and masterminding more tactically astute and confident performances in Europe will only serve to reinforce the sense that Bradley is someone whose story has barely begun. So what of the post-Ireland chapter for Kenny? It definitely felt as thought Europe enthused him as he began to adapt to life with St Pat's back in the League of Ireland. Some of the performances and results harked back – somewhat – to the days at Dundalk ahead of their Europa League adventure in 2016. Mason Melia stood out to such a degree that Everton, Celtic and Tottenham Hotspur all firmed up their interest, with the latter eventually agreeing a transfer that could eventually rise to €4 million for a striker who is still only 17. Kenny took St Pat's to the Conference League play-off against Istanbul Basaksehir and, had they not lost 2-0 in Turkey after a goalless firs leg in Dublin, would have been the first Irish club that weren't champions to reach the group/league phase. Pat's are at a low ebb after Monday's defeat and while those two images involving Duff and Barrett stood out there was a third that also told a story as Kenny and his players went on a lap of appreciation around a ground that seemed restless and frustrated. Lithuania's FC Hegelmann are first up and the Saints really could do with a repeat of last year to provide the impetus required for a strong conclusion to this season. 'It definitely helped us because the tempo and level you were playing and you were bringing that into your league form so it definitely was advantageous, but there's no guarantees you're replicating that,' Kenny said on Monday night. 'You've got to earn the right to do that.'
Irish Daily Mirror
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Shelbourne's Paddy Barrett on why he loves the ugly side of the beautiful game
Paddy Barrett reckons there is something beautiful about the ugly side of the game. And if tapping into those values helps Shelbourne get back into the title race, and through their Champions League showdown with Linfield, he will gladly take it. The powerhouse centre-back has made a timely return to the champions' starting XI after missing 12 games in-a-row with a torn quad muscle. The true extent of the injury was kept under wraps by Shels, with Barrett now revealing that he expected to be out of action for at least four months. But he is back ahead of schedule having started the last two games, and made his presence felt with a no-nonsense defensive display against St Pat's on Monday. Shels dominated the first-half at Richmond Park and took the lead through Ali Coote but they were second best throughout the second-half, with St Pat's the dominant side. Yet the Saints ultimately failed to capitalise as the Barrett-led Shels rearguard defended manfully to protect their lead and secure just a third win in 12 games. Damien Duff's charges are 12-points behind leaders Shamrock Rovers and retaining the league title looks an extremely tall order, right now. But ahead of a hectic schedule of domestic and European games, Barrett feels a return to some old-fashioned values will stand to the reigning champions. Barrett said: 'In recent weeks and months we haven't had that side to us, that dirty side. Not the dirty side, I keep on saying the dirty side, but it's a beautiful side. I love it, but I feel like we lost that. We went away from it, so to show that side again was the most pleasing thing about Monday. 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. 'I think that's why results haven't been going our way. We've been conceding sloppy goals, individual mistakes, collective mistakes. That's not us. We grind out results when we need to. And we did that on Monday, and hopefully going forward we can keep on showing that side when it's needed. It was about showing we have that doggedness about us and that we have each other's back.' Waterford man Barrett, 31, continued: 'That was a big part of us winning the league last year - that side of football. It's not pretty, but it's needed.' Barrett also won two league titles at Dundalk under Stephen Kenny, so he has a good handle on what's required from a team to go all the way. That 12-point gap to Shamrock Rovers is a gaping one and that's why last Friday's home defeat to the Hoops cut so deep. Barrett said: 'Look, Shamrock Rovers are obviously in flying form. But we can't look too deep into that because if we do, we'll just beat ourselves up every week. 'Last year we won the league on that nasty side. Well, not nasty but the ugly side of football where people are diving around, blocking balls, defending one-on-one. I can't really look at the table too much because there's over half the season to go. There's so much football to go and hopefully Monday's result gives us a kickstart.' Barrett is just happy to be back in the thick of it after such a long layoff where Shels had to deploy makeshift defences, with skipper Mark Coyle dropping in from midfield. Injured towards the end of March, Barrett knew that if the original timeframe had stood he would be sitting out a lot of Shels' Champions League adventures. 'I was given a 16-week mark,' he said. 'But I was back after 10 or 11 weeks. I had a bad injury. It happened in training, an 11v11 game during the international break (in March). I was just passing the ball and felt something. I knew it was bad but after scans and seeing specialists, they gave me the bad news. Our doctor is probably the best I've ever met and the best I've ever dealt with and I just had to listen to him.' But Barrett admits his philosophical-sounding approach to it all is born out of hindsight, as he didn't always think that way. 'I'm stubborn and was telling him he's wrong,' laughed the defender, who initially wanted to flout the advice and fast-track his return to the team. 'But scans, results and x-rays, they're the ones with the knowledge. I'm telling them I'm itching and trying to get back on the pitch way earlier than I should have. 'I'm arguing with them, they're arguing with me. But in the end we made a mutual agreement and I came back at the right time. It's tough mentally when you're out injured because you're worthless to a team. But I'm back now and hopefully I can stay fit and get this team back to where we want to be.' But if Shels are serious about getting back in the shake-up, Barrett knows it must start against Derry City tonight when the champions look to follow-up Monday's success. Winning away to St Pat's will be meaningless if tonight's game counts for nothing and Barrett added: 'That's the most important thing. I feel like we haven't been doing that. When we pick up a good result, we haven't backed it up. We haven't given the fans that full performance at home for a while. 'But the team should be full of confidence. We get the backing of the manager and the staff - who are elite level. They believe in us. There's no doubt in my mind that every single player we have can turn this around.' Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email.
The Irish Sun
16 hours ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘I feel like we lost that' – Paddy Barrett urges Shels to embrace the dirty work again in League of Ireland
PADDY BARRETT is a firm believer that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And the Advertisement 2 Paddy Barrett has urged his team-mates to once again embrace their gritty style on the pitch 2 Barrett insists the champions are back to what they do best after their win over St Pat's on Monday Shels returned to their roots on Monday when they ground out a 1-0 win over Barrett's old club Given they are 12 points behind leaders But Barrett was chuffed to see the Reds get back to their traditional values and called on his team-mates to back it up against The 31-year-old defender said: 'We dominated the football in the first half. Advertisement read more on football 'We were very tidy on the ball and kept it nicely. We had to show a different side in the second half and I think it's a side that we are built on. 'It's a side that I personally love, where we're putting our bodies on the line. 'That side of football is not a pretty side but it's a beautiful side. We won the league on that nasty side last year. 'Not the nasty side but as in the ugly side of football where people are diving around, blocking balls, defending and one-on-one defending. I thought it was excellent. Advertisement Most read in Sport Exclusive 'We haven't had that side to us, that dirty side, in recent weeks and months. I keep saying the dirty side but it's a beautiful side. I love it. 'I feel like we lost that. We went away from that side and just to show that side again . . . I think that was the most pleasing thing. We have that doggedness about us and have each other's backs.' Club World Cup clash SUSPENDED as fans and commentators told to leave stands and 'get inside' Barrett's return to action — he came on at half-time in the last game before the break and started the first after the resumption — may have helped in that regard. The centre-half was out since the March international break. Advertisement And while Shels had divulged few details about the extent of his injury, he revealed he was back ahead of schedule. Barrett said: 'It was in an 11-v-11 in training. I was just passing the ball and I felt something. 'At the time I knew it was bad but obviously after scans and seeing specialists then they kind of gave me the bad news. 'I tore my quad, I tore my rectus femoris. I was out for 16 weeks. Advertisement 'I had to see specialists and it just wasn't healing for me. 'But, in the end, with the physio and the fitness coach, I got back in maybe ten-and-a-half or 11 weeks. 'It is a credit to them and a credit to myself.' But Barrett admitted that he initially struggled to accept the consultant's prognosis. Advertisement He added: 'I'm just stubborn and was telling him he's wrong. 'Look, results and scans, results and X-rays and all this. They're the ones with the knowledge. 'I'm telling them I'm itching and trying to get back on the pitch way earlier than I should have. 'It was frustrating. I'm arguing with them and they're arguing with me. Advertisement 'But in the end we made a mutual agreement. I came back at the right time.' Barrett is now determined to show Monday's game was not a one-off at Tolka Park this evening. He said: 'When we pick up a good result, we haven't backed it up. 'We probably haven't given the fans that full performance at home for a while now. Advertisement 'Hopefully we can back it up and put a run together.' But he is not fretting about retaining a league title, which he said meant more to him than the two he won with Dundalk earlier in his career. He said: 'Shamrock Rovers are in flying form and 12 points ahead of us. 'But I don't think we can look too deep into it as we'll beat ourselves up if we do.' Advertisement
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Shelbourne discover next Champions League opponent, if they beat Linfield
Shelbourne will face Qarabag of Azerbaijan in the next round of the Champions League, if they can get past Linfield. If they eliminate the Belfast giants, Damien Duff's charges would be at home in the first-leg of the second qualifying round clash with Qarabag. Qarabag are 12-time champions of Azerbaijan and boast strong European pedigree, having made the group or league phase of competitions every year since 2014. Last season, they reached the league phase of the Europa League and sailed through to the round of 16 in the Europa League in 2023. In 2019, Qarabag beat Dundalk 4-1 on aggregate in the Champions League second qualifying round. And that same year, they edged out Linfield on away goals when they dropped into the Europa League playoff round. Either Shelbourne or Linfield will be at home to Qarabag on July 22/23, with the second-leg scheduled for July 29/30. 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. But Shels won't lose sight of their big date with Linfield on July 8/9 with a tantalising €2 million Champions League shootout three weeks from now. All-Island bragging rights are also on the line when the League of Ireland champions face the NIFL Premiership kingpins at Tolka Park and then Windsor Park. And Reds boss Damien Duff said yesterday: 'It's a brilliant day for everyone at the football club, especially for those who have been through the dark times. 'Players and staff watched the draw together and there's already a great buzz at the prospect of an All-Ireland derby.' Shels are guaranteed a minimum €1 million in European prize money but knocking Linfield out would almost double that. Beating the Blues would guarantee another three European ties for Duff's men, who found timely form on Monday by beating St Pat's. Duff is ready to strengthen his squad in the transfer window as he knows it will be demanding trying to juggle league commitments with European adventures. And particularly so if Shels unlock the door to the 'champions path' by beating David Healy's Belfast giants. But Duff has the experience of last season's two rounds of the Conference League to lean on and said: 'It's just a mentality thing. 'The big teams all around Europe, yeah, they play on a Wednesday and they're up for the game but they're up for it again on the weekend. It's absolutely alien to our lads, I get that, but it's something that I'll try to hammer home. 'It's not 'Oh, Friday, and we have to go again Monday. Oh, I'm tired'. You're not tired. They're all young boys. A lot of them are still living at home with their mammies getting their washing done, their cooking done. 'You can sleep 20 hours a day if you want to. All I want to see you for is 90 minutes.' And Duff added: 'Mentally, attacking two games a week out of three isn't an elite mindset for me. It's attacking every game.' Linfield are out of season but there won't be any issue getting a handle on such familiar and local opponents as Duff prepares to do his homework. The Ireland legend added: 'I've been an analyst 90% of the time for three years, believe it or not, and 5% manager and 5% coach. This year we've got Martin Doyle in, which is a big help and there's an excitement in that. 'Last year, it was St Joseph's (of Gibraltar) and we were trying to claw footage of them. The next game, Zurich, you're looking at footage and thinking, 'are they that good? Are they that bad?' You go and play them away and they're that f***** good, yeah. 'There'll be an element to that this year, but you can sleep when you're dead.' Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email.
Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Shelbourne legend's 'disgust at Linfield game, I threw my medal in a river'
Stuart Byrne would love Damien Duff's Shelbourne to get revenge on Linfield - as it would put the old boys out of their misery. Byrne was stand-in captain for the day when Shels played Linfield in the inaugural 2005 Setanta Cup final in front of 10,000 people at a pulsating Tolka Park. But the day ended in disaster from a Reds perspective as the Blues ran out comfortable 2-0 winners to claim the All-Island bragging rights. And Shelbourne legend Byrne told Mirror Sport last night: 'I'm still absolutely disgusted with that game, and I didn't hang onto the losers' medal either. 'When all the crowd left Tolka Park, I walked out of the dressing room, up the steps of the Riverside Stand and when I got to the top, I f***** it into the Tolka river! 'It's been there that long, it's probably a bronze medal now. It's the single most disappointing night of my football career. The Hibs of Malta game in the Champions League is a close second and still haunts me, but Linfield is number one.' Byrne continued: 'Ask any of the lads who played that day and they'll tell you the same, and I'm sure the supporters know what we're on about.' Tuesday's Champions League draw at UEFA headquarters in Nyon threw up a rematch with the respective champions on both sides of the border set to clash. 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. Shelbourne are at home in the first-leg, with Tolka Park set to host the game once passed fit by UEFA chiefs. The club has been carrying out work to meet criteria for the opening round of qualifiers and expect to play there. Security arrangements surrounding an All-Island clash of this magnitude will create headaches but Byrne feels Shels would lose a big advantage by playing anywhere else. 'The players, fans and Damien Duff will all want to play in Tolka and the only reason you'd move elsewhere is for money as the demand will be that big,' said Byrne. 'I just hope Shels can get the job done in this tie as it would quieten the demons that most of that 2005 team still carry around with them. 'That game should serve as a reminder to the current team that you might be the better side on paper, but it doesn't always pan out that way. 'I firmly believe Shelbourne are the better team in this (Champions League) tie, but they have to do it the hard way, being away in the second leg.' Byrne added: 'It's a mouthwatering tie, but dangerous too. Nobody needs a history lesson but when Linfield come to town they bring a lot of history and a big crowd. 'To get over the line, you have to negotiate the emotion of all that and hopefully Shels can manage it as I'd love a bit of revenge.' In drawing Linfield, Shelbourne dodged a date with Steaua Bucharest of Romania, Breidablick of Iceland, FC Drita of Kosovo and Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar. Duff's men will be favourites, but Linfield will fancy this draw too and won't be fearing the League of Ireland champions even if they will be out-of-season. And Byrne reckons that out-of-season argument is no longer particularly relevant with David Healy's men now a full-time entity. Ex-Dundalk ace Chris Shields is a key man in the Blues' ranks, but will be suspended for the first-leg in Dublin. Byrne, who ended up winning the Setanta Cup with Drogheda United, two years after losing that final to Linfield, said: 'Linfield may be out of season, but I'm wary of that. 'I don't buy into that stuff too much. The 'out of season' argument belongs in the amateur and part-time eras. It's a different story with seasoned pros who know how to condition themselves and I just don't buy into it. 'Linfield are a huge club and I'll be watching this closely as I've always felt we should be playing in the same league as these teams - an All-Island league. 'You can't underestimate Linfield at any time. Some Northern teams are a good bit below League of Ireland sides, but I'd never disregard Linfield as they're a huge club.' Linfield fans will be restricted to a limited number of tickets as Tolka Park's capacity is reduced to approximately 3,500 for European matches. Shels only have to give a 5% allocation to their opposition, which means no more than 175/200 Blues fans are likely to be at the game itself. With the transfer window approaching, Duff will strengthen his squad with the prospect of multiple games to contend with, here and on the continent. But while Europe takes sharper focus, Duff insists the league is still the priority for the reigning champions even though they are 12 points adrift of leaders Shamrock Rovers. Shels boss Duff said: Duff said: 'That's where I guess you'd be wise as a management team, picking teams, having a squad. There's a (transfer) window coming up. Lets call a spade a spade, we will look to do business. I still think three games a week is loads. 'League of Ireland teams are like 'ugh', but we're going to have to deal with it and lads are going to have to get their head around it. 'I dealt with it for 15, 16, 20 years but I still always have that 'I have to go again?' Yeah, you do. It's your f******* job and it's the best days of your life, playing football.' Duff added: 'That's up to lads looking after themselves, recovering, putting in the best account of themselves and trying to be wise and pick the right team at the right time.' Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email.
