Dylan Duffy on impressive Lincoln City start: 'I feel good and want to keep going'

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Former UCD and Shamrock Rovers attacker Dylan Duffy is hoping that he can build on his impressive start to life in England with Lincoln City.

Duffy joined the Imps from UCD during the League of Ireland off-season and scored his first senior goal for the club on Saturday against Wycombe Wanderers.

In doing so, he has caught the eye of his boss Mark Kennedy – a former Ireland international – at Sincil Bank.

But the winger, 20, admits he wants to do even more with his new employer.

“I’ve done well since I came in but I want to do more,” he explained. “I want to play as many games as I can.

“I have started the last two games and I want to finish the season off strongly.

“My main goal is to push for a place in the starting XI next season. I want to be the starting winger next season.”

Since joining the club, Duffy had to endure an injury that saw him miss out on almost three months of action after joining.

And it was that setback that cut his 2022 campaign with UCD short.



“When I signed, everyone was really good with me. They were trying not to put any pressure on me,” he explained.

“I like that but at the same time you want to feel pressure as a player. I couldn’t have asked for any better.

“But I want to be starting and be the number one.

“Mark (Kennedy) has been brilliant with me since I came in. I came in with an injury and it was a long road back.

“Last Tuesday’s game against Barnsley was my first start in six months. But I feel good and I want to keep going.”



While Duffy has been pleased with his own start to life in League One, his manager has been quick to heap praise on the Dubliner.

On Saturday Kennedy stressed that the Ireland underage international has ‘balls of steel’ and is a top talent.

“He has got balls of steel,” the Lincoln boss said. “He has huge confidence in himself and that’s not arrogance.

“He’s a peck in my head and he wants to get on all the time but we’re trying to be patient with him.

“But what we do say is that most players who get a chance at his age are through injuries or circumstances.

“And with Dylan we thought his time would come through circumstances but we were determined to give him his opportunity.

“Dylan has a long way to go but he has a bright future. You need a lot to go your way, but in terms of his talent he is a real talent.”

While plying his trade in the League of Ireland, Duffy began his professional career at Shamrock Rovers and then joined UCD ahead of the 2022 campaign. 

While at UCD he made 31 appearances in the Premier Division, scoring three goals and grabbing a further three assists. 

He also played three times for the Hoops at senior level and also featured for their Shamrock Rovers II during the 2020 First Division season.

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