DUFFER FEELS DERBY SHOWS SHELS’ STRIDES
DAMIEN Duff says sparking up the Shelbourne-St Pat’s rivalry once again proves he’s doing something right at Tolka Park.
The Dublin rivals played out a madcap 4-4 draw in Drumcondra on Monday night.
As well as the eight goals, including three penalties and an own goal, there were nine yellow cards and three reds, two of them from the sidelines.
If not already smouldering, the roller-coaster clash combusted on 72 minutes with Shels 4-3 up.
A bout of intense verbals erupted on the touchline after which Saints gaffer Tim Clancy and Shels coach Alan Quinn were shown straight reds by ref Neil Doyle.
The two then had to be kept apart when they tried to continue their chat in front of the stand behind the dugouts.
Eoin Doyle netted his second spot kick of the game as Saints came from behind three times to salvage a point.
Both sides then had chances to win it before Saints midfielder Jamie Lennon was sent off in stoppage time.
There has been longstanding friction between the clubs since Shels clinched the 2001/02 title after Saints were docked points for registration failings, uncovered by the Reds’ Ollie Byrne.
Rescheduled
This season’s ill feeling between the two clubs had simmered since August when this already rescheduled game had to be called off because St Pat’s got stranded in Bulgaria.
Shels didn’t buy St Pat’s explanations that they couldn’t get back in time from their Europa Conference League game in Sofia and felt they should have been given a walkover.
“The St Pat’s and Shels rivalry has gone on for many years, maybe we have reignited it a bit,” said Shels gaffer Duff afterwards.
“It shows we’re doing something right. I think Alan has had a few ding dongs with (Clancy) already this year.
“I’ve spoken to him and I want him on the touchline.
“I used to be the emotional one and now I’m the calm one, I’m trying to get him to calm down.”
Asked how he’s been endeavouring to do just that, Duff quipped: “If only you knew!
Improve
“None of us are bulletproof, you need to, I guess, improve yourself all the time.
“I know I was too emotional for the first half of the season.
“That’s me, I still get carried away at times because of the decision making that you see.
“It probably doesn’t help the team on the pitch that their manager is a ranting crackball on the side, whatever you want to call me.
“I’m just constantly trying to calm down because I think that’s what I should do.”
Clancy played down his spat with Quinn, naturally agreeing that being sent off is far from ideal.
“No, it’s something I need to change massively. I’ll look at it and make sure it doesn’t happen again,” said Clancy.
Asked about their history when also having clashed with Quinn at Richmond Park earlier this season, Clancy said: “No, I don’t know Alan. I’ve never met Alan before.”