Duff: It’s About Releasing the Shackles and Playing with a Smile | OneFootball

The Reds return to Tolka Park for the final home game before the summer break as they play host to Sligo Rovers in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division (7:45pm – live on LOITV)

Damien Duff welcomes back Mark Coyle and Ali Coote from suspension, while Sean Gannon will miss out having accumulated 5 yellow cards.

Duff delivered a squad update after training on Thursday afternoon: “Paddy Barrett and Sean Boyd are both back on the pitch in training. We’re eager to get them back of course, we could risk playing them, but we have to be cautious.

“We’re waiting on the green light from the specialist. As long as there are no setbacks, please God we’ll see them back playing soon. Conor Kearns we’re optimistic on. He went off on Monday. It’s the same injury Conor had in 2023 with his calf and he was back for the very next game then.”

Reflecting on the week’s preparation Duff said: “We’ve been upbeat since Tuesday morning. We had a great team meeting Tuesday, a good debrief and post-match recovery session on Wednesday, recovered well, and trained well today. The best thing we could have is another game four days later after a disappointing result. How do you turn the page? Just by playing matches, it’s simple. We’re all happy there’s another game so soon.

“The lads are in a tricky spot at the minute. Maybe there’s a bit of doubt about themselves. What they need is my help, the staff’s help, and maybe even a bit of extra love and encouragement from the fans.”

Sligo Rovers arrive at Tolka Park looking to pick up points to help them climb up the table, Duff though isn’t reading much into where they are in the standings: “The league position doesn’t fool me. Can actually in some ways nearly help as they play with a bit of freedom. But most importantly, it’s about concentrating on our own performances. When our lads hit their top level, they usually get the rewards they deserve.”

“Earlier in the season, we won down there, it was a game where there was a bit of needle in it, with proper intensity to it, there seems to be a bit of needle between us and everyone at the moment, which is no harm. We’re up against a very good team. Even though they’re bottom, they play with bravery, courage, and real quality. They’re a very dangerous outfit.”

Duff isn’t concerned with the table at this early stage of the season, he says their only focus is on picking up results: “Getting a couple of points on the board now is plain and simple. We’re not overly worried or getting stressed, but we can’t keep dropping points, especially with these Friday–Monday games. We’ve dropped a lot of needless points, a lot of tight games, previously we would have found something, we’ve come out on the wrong end of them this season.”

Sean Gannon will miss out through suspension, while the ongoing absence of Sean Boyd and Paddy Barrett sees the dressing room missing not just experience but leadership. Duff is eager for new voices to fill that void and step up into leadership roles:

“It’s something I’ve consistently put on their minds,  we need to hear more voices, we’re a quiet dressing room. People are there for them, myself, the staff, everyone, helping them, driving them, doing everything we can to encourage and coach them. But at 7:45pm tomorrow, it’s over to the lads who cross the white line. We are good enough as a team, they are good enough as individuals, we just need to show that.”

“I referenced it in the team meeting, we look like we’re playing with the weight of the world on our shoulders, why is that? Is it the position in the table, or is it the pressure we’ve created ourselves? There’s definitely a weight on their shoulders, and carrying that doesn’t help. It’s about releasing the shackles, maybe even playing with a smile on your face over the next two games. I think that’s when footballers are at their best, when they are enjoying what they’re doing.”