IT’S BOG STANDARD
Leaders struggle after virus rips through squad
NORMALLY it is with eight games to go when you hear football managers talk about squeaky bum time.
Not yesterday.
Instead every Shelbourne player had a day of panic, one that required regular visits to the toilet, even during their warm-up.
Yet it wasn’t nerves that caused the issue, rather a virus that spread through their squad, robbing them of their captain, Mark Coyle, and two other starters.
“Heroes,” was their manager, Damien Duff ’s description of his players after their scoreless draw against title contenders, Derry.
“Those lads have been ill all weekend, desperately ill today. The virus has affected all of them. People have no idea what they went through.
“So fair play to them, they were suffering, yet they picked themselves up, and went at it. They gave 100 percent out there. I can’t speak highly enough of them. It is the best point we have won all season.”
Strangely enough, Derry felt the same way. Having bottled it on Friday against Galway, they were under pressure coming into this fixture, their manager, Ruaidhri Higgins, saying the hurt he felt afterwards was the worst he has had in football.
“I didn’t sleep much over the weekend,” said Higgins.
If we are being cruel, you could say that a rewatch of this game would cure his insomnia, for it lacked incident, and in an attacking sense, quality.
In many ways it was like an oldtime League of Ireland game, full of grit, played on a poor surface, shy of imagination.
Chances were at a premium. Adam O’reilly had a shot that drifted wide for Derry, Will Patching had two free kicks, one of which was deflected wide and in the final minute Conor Kearns’ interception prevented Michael Duffy getting on the end of a through ball.
“Shelbourne defend excellently,” said Higgins. “They’re an outstanding team. Make no mistake they have to be considered contenders for this League championship. They are up there for a reason.”
The main reason is Duff.
As a manager he is relentless in his drive, and with a collection of selfless players willing to sacrifice their egos for the good of the team, they clearly have a chance of doing something memorable in 2024.
Eight points separate them from their two likeliest rivals for the title, Derry and Shamrock Rovers.
“Ah but it is early days yet,” protested Duff.
Perhaps so, but the more we see of this team, of their energy, their passion, their resilience, of the quality exuded by goalkeeper Kearns, centre back Paddy Barrett, midfielder JJ Lunney, winger Will Jarvis, the more convinced we are that they can last the course.
“They possess a bigger attacking threat now too,” said Higgins, whose own forward options were limited by the enforced withdrawal of Pat Hoban at half-time.
“We hope he will be okay for this Friday but we don’t know yet.”
He added: “This was a much better performance in terms of commitment. We’ve had some difficult nights. Losing to Galway hurt the most. A lot of home truths were said after.”