SETTING A HIGH BARR
Paddy says leaders must put pedal to metal
PADDY BARRETT insists it is pedal to the metal for Shelbourne as they lay bare their title credentials.
And the centre-back, a two-time title winner at Stephen Kenny’s Dundalk, has challenged the chasing pack to catch them if they can.
Damien Duff’s Reds are the early pace setters and enjoy a six-point cushion over Derry City after nine games, and lead champions Shamrock Rovers by nine.
Shels have looked the part, conceding a miserly six goals in that time, and yet debate rages as to whether they are genuine contenders.
Barrett, 30, knows the plaudits mean nothing with two thirds of the season still to play – but he’s enjoying the view ahead of tomorrow’s derby clash at home to Bohemians.
“I came here last season knowing the club was going in the right direction and that’s why I joined,” said the Waterford man.
“Finishing fourth last year was a massive achievement. To get Europe was incredible. We’re top of the table at the moment but that’s irrelevant.
“We’re only nine games in, there’s another 27 left. You have Shamrock Rovers, Derry and St Pat’s, whoever it may be, breathing down your neck.
“We’ve 10 games over the next six or seven weeks. That will decide a lot in seeing where this team can go. And we’ll be punished if we take the foot off the pedal.”
Barrett continued: “We started this league to go and win it, but it’s the same for the other nine teams, so we know how hard it is.
“We have to understand where we come from. We’re not that top team with top, top players that, say, Shamrock Rovers have been over the last four or five years. “They have built and built on that, whereas we’ve been built on hard work. We just have to continue that and see where it takes us.”
But with Duff (inset) cracking the whip as manager and making no apologies for the demands he sets, Barrett is adamant that nobody will take their eye off the ball.
His career has spanned Ireland, Scotland, America and Cambodia but Barrett has never seen a manager get such buy-in as Duff has.
Asked if this is the best drilled side he has played in, Barrett said: “It’s definitely the best one to buy-in to what the manager and staff have done and expect from you.
“There’s a buzz around. It’s easy to say that when you’re winning games and you’re doing well every week. It’s easy to bounce in on a Monday morning.
“But we’ve a lot of young players and it’s important not to get carried away.
“Don’t get too hyped and don’t get too low with the lows.”