Duff excited for final home game against Drogheda United | OneFootball

All eyes will be on Tolka Park as the Reds face Drogheda United in the penultimate game of the 2024 League of Ireland season.  (7:45pm KO/RTÉ2)

The sold-out signs have been up at the Drumcondra venue since Monday afternoon, with all 4,755 tickets sold by lunchtime four days before the game, it not only marked the quickest selling game of the season for Shels, but the fastest selling game in 18 years.

Damien Duff’s side prepare for the final home outing of the year having got back to winning ways in style last Friday night beating Waterford FC 3-1 at Tolka to remain top of the table ahead of the final two games.

Duff delivered a team news update to ShelbourneFC.ie ahead of the visit of Drogs tomorrow: “We’re all set, Shane Griffin and Sam Bone remain out with injury, Matty Smith and Mark Coyle are suspended. Aside from that, we’re in good shape.”

“JJ had another good week, full week of training, great to have him back for these games. He’ll have a part to play for sure.”

Two Reds made the PFAI Team of the Year for 2024, as voted for by players in the League of Ireland. Duff extended his congrats to both Mark Coyle and Paddy Barrett on their inclusion, but admits he was surprised not to see a few more:

“Delighted for Paddy and Mark. Well deserved. I thought there would have been more if I’m honest, but awards like this probably come down at times to who you know in this country and in this league— not what you do, it’s disappointing that there aren’t more of our players in there, because there should be. Hats off to the boys that have made it, they’ve been excellent.”

Reflecting on a big win last week, Duff said: “It was pleasing to review it (the Waterford game)on Monday. As much as you want to play well, this stage of the season it’s really about getting the three points, performances like that usually follow with putting points on the board. After the last three games where we only got 1 point out of 9, we deserved more, it was good to get that win. What followed it as well was really important, a great week of training, to be honest the lads have been training excellently for a few weeks, we’re in good shape ahead of tomorrow.”

The Reds face a crucial game tomorrow, with just two matches to go Duff knows back to back wins would see his side end an 18-year-wait for a league title. For Duff, they are focusing on the task at hand and not the occasion:

“We are going to treat it like any other game, trying to keep things normal. Maybe in the past, we’ve overthought or built up games like this, at this time of the season, too much. Now, it’s back to normal service and a regular week of training.

“Even during the poor run of results over the last 6-8 weeks, we kept working hard and coaching. We didn’t change, didn’t panic. Kept doing our work and were fully confident that it would turn.

“I’ll never lose faith in what we’re doing—the staff, the players. We know it’s the right way, and I won’t change, and no one will make me change my mind on that. Some of the results have been poor, but results like last Friday help get the lads back on track.”

The Reds face a Drogheda United side who’s league position is confirmed and also have a FAI Cup final to look forward to, Duff knows the Louth side have plenty to play for:

“I won’t be debating what kind of performance is coming. I expect a top, top performance from Drogheda—they’re a very tough team. They’ve been really close games every time we’ve played. There’s a reason they’ve upset many brilliant teams and there’s a reason why they’re in the cup final. They’re tough, they have quality all over the pitch, they are well-organised, with a top manager in Kevin and top people around the club. We respect them 100%, but at the end of the day, Friday night, it comes down to us and what we do.”

The Reds stand on the brink knowing two wins would see Shels claim the biggest prize in Irish football. Duff says the focus is clear: “It’s nice to be here, people are probably surprised we are, and that we’ve managed to stay there for almost the entire season, but this was always our plan. When you have a plan, you have to see it through. We’re in a good position now, and there’s a plan for these two games. When we met at the start of the season, I didn’t ask the lads to be in a title race—I demanded it. I’m not interested in gallant efforts, Irish football has probably been built on it for decades. I’m not interested in hard luck stories, my only interest is in finising the job.”

Duff has urged fans to get down to Tolka early on Friday, pack the place and make their voices heard, as it can give the players an extra 1%:

“It goes without saying that it’s a massive game, and it’s fitting that it falls on the eve of our anniversary at Tolka on Saturday, a great occasion I’m excited to be involved in, 100 years, what a milestone. The history and tradition of this club is amazing. Everyone knows Tolka is the heart and soul of Shelbourne Football Club. As I told the staff the other day, the Riverside is the most iconic stand in the league—I mean this, nothing comes close to it. It’s a special place, my favourite place, and I’ve made Tolka and Shelbourne my home. Myself, the players, the staff, everyone around, we all want to deliver for these fans and for this football club tomorrow night.”