Ground for positivity surrounding Duff’s Shels

SHELBOURNE may not have won at home this season yet but there has been no shortage of positive storylines flowing through the Tolka Park terraces. Damien Duff’s high-profile appointment as manager was one; the momentum around the ‘Save Tolka Park’ campaign another. The future of the venerable sports stadium appears secure in light of the decision by Dublin City Council (DCC) to scrap plans to rezone Tolka for residential use. Instead, they have been persuaded by the club’s owners that Tolka Park, one of Dublin’s most historic football arenas, should continue as a sporting amenity. While a win-win result for the club hierarchy and its supporters, most of whom were reluctant to groundshare a revamped Dalymount Park with neighbours Bohemians, there is much to be done. For starters, DCC owns Tolka Park and Shels will have to cough up several million euro to regain the keys and proceed with their ambitious Tolka overhaul, as announced in February. DCC also announced yesterday they will assist St Patrick’s Athletic with their plans to upgrade Richmond Park. Against this backdrop, DCC will continue with the rebuild of Dalymount Park as a municipal stadium although it may be the 2025 season before Bohemians are ready to move in — that’s five years beyond the FAI’s initial timeline. Bray Wanderers yesterday rowed in behind manager Pat Devlin following his exchange with a knot of angry fans after the 0-0 draw in Wexford on Monday. The Seagulls are ‘fully supportive’ of Devlin while acknowledging that results have been ‘frustrating.’