DUN LOOK TO TOPPLE DUFF MEN
DARYL HORGAN got a close up view of Damien Duff’s work ethic when they were in Ireland camps together.
And that’s why he’s not surprised that Shelbourne are motoring under the Ireland legend.
But after belatedly securing a first win of the season last week, Horgan insists Dundalk are motivated to topple Duff’s league leaders tonight.
Their 2-0 win over Bohs was their first of the season with Noel King providing a new manager bounce in his first game at the helm.
King knows Shels well, having been their senior women’s manager between 2021 and 2023, winning two league titles and an FA Cup.
“I can see it out my back garden,” he laughed. “I can also see Dalymount from the same window, but I can walk to Shelbourne and get a sliced pan.”
Influential
“They’re solid and they have a bit of flair and a bit of everything really so I’m not too surprised at all that they are doing well.”
Dundalk boss King isn’t surprised either by Shels’ improvement, although he admits his interactions with Duff were minimal when they both worked at the club.
“Damien has done great things for the League of Ireland. He gets the publicity, he makes his comments, he highlights the game,” said King yesterday.
“The more the game is highlighted in a positive way, the better, so I think he’s been good.
“Shels are trying to catch the so-called superpowers and he’s making progress so you have to give him full credit for that.”
7.45pm, Oriel Park,
Winger Horgan was influential in that win over Bohs and King will need him on song for the second week running if they are to follow-up.
Horgan won 11 of his 17 Ireland caps under his former Lilywhites boss Stephen Kenny and Duff was part of that coaching team for five of them.
The Shels boss rocked the Irish camp by stepping down in January, 2021 after only six games of the Kenny era.
But Horgan saw enough of Duff in action on the training ground to understand why he is getting a tune out of the table-topping Reds.
“Tactically he was very, very good,” said the 31-year-old Galway man.
“As he wasn’t the manager it might have been slightly different but tactically he was good.
“Training was very good and the intensity he expected off the players was very impressive.”
Duff has been a fierce taskmaster at Shels but his core group of his players have responded every step of the way.
Those that haven’t were shown the door.
“They were very good last year,” said Horgan of tonight’s opponents. “They’re very well drilled. Obviously Damien Duff is a very good coach.
“Working with him for Ireland, he was very, very impressive. They’re a difficult side to play.
Flair
vLOI TV TODAY’S DIARY
(7.45pm unless stated)
P W D L Shelbourne 13 7 4 2 Shamrock Rvs13 6 5 2 Derry City 13 6 4 3 Bohemians 12 6 1 5 Galway Utd 12 4 4 4 St Pat’s Ath 13 4 3 6 Sligo Rovers 12 3 5 4 Waterford FC 12 3 4 5 Drogheda Utd12 2 5 5 Dundalk 12 1 5 6
P W D L Cork City 12 8 4 0 UCD 12 6 3 3 Bray Wand’ 12 5 3 4 Wexford FC 11 5 3 3 Finn Harps 12 5 3 4 Athlone Town 12 5 3 4 Treaty United 11 3 3 5 Cobh Ramb’ 11 2 4 5 Kerry 12 1 6 5 Longford Tn 11 0 4 7
F 15 22 22 13 7 12 13 12 12 6
F 19 17 22 22 12 16 10 15 10 12
A Pts 9 25 11 23 14 22 14 19 7 16 14 15 14 14 14 13 20 11 17 8
A Pts 3 28 11 21 18 18 21 18 11 18 18 18 12 12 21 10 14 9 26 4