RAISING THE BARR
Defender says hard work has taken Shels to top SHELBOURNE v BOHEMIANS CLANCY: WE CAN HANDLE CHANGE
PADDY BARRETT insists it is pedal to the metal for Shelbourne as they lay bare their title credentials.
And the centre-back — a twotime 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 sixpoint cushion over Derry City after nine games, and lead champions Shamrock Rovers by nine.
Shels have looked the part, conceding just 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.
Demands
“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 cracking the whip and making no apologies for the demands he sets, Barrett is adamant that nobody will take their eye off the ball.
“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.”
Meanwhile, Barrett is thrilled to see the capacity increasing and the paint brushes out - at Tolka Park as demand for tickets increases.
Capacity for tomorrow’s derby with Bohs will remain capped at 4,757 while finishing touches are applied to the works.
But that will increase to
5,700 for the Shamrock
Rovers game on Monday,
April 22.
Barrett added: “As players, we love to see the place full. To get an extra thousand in every week will be unbelievable to play in front of.”
CORK CITY boss Tim Clancy is backing his players to overcome the uncertainty of where they will play matches.
The Munster Football Association (MFA) announced this week that Turner’s Cross is to close indefinitely for urgent pitch repairs.
And the Rebels cannot say for certain how long they will be without a home ground.
Nearby Musgrave Park is a possible venue, but Munster Rugby say they haven’t recieved a request.
Excuse
But ahead of Friday’s trip to UCD, Rebels boss Clancy insists his First Division league leaders can overcome any roadblocks.
“If we were in a different position in the league you could use it as an excuse and a distraction but, where we are at the minute, we’re in a really good place,” he said.