Damien Duff was box office on the pitch and now just as entertaining off it

Shelbourne boss Damien Duff

Shelbourne boss Damien Duff Credit: Eddie Lennon (ETPhotos)

You’re never quite sure what to expect next from Shelbourne manager Damien Duff, so you never step too far from the TV when he’s on it.

Method to Duff's 'madness'

Pulling a jubilant Shels fan out of the crowd to give the post-match team talk following a hard-fought win against St Patrick's in the Dublin derby was the most recent example of Duff’s tendency to do the wholly unexpected. 

Understandably, most of Duff’s team had quizzical looks on their faces as a fan began addressing them but by the end of his message, the microphone of the club’s in-house media drastically distorted as the players roared their approval. 

It is certainly unconventional but Duff’s methods have, so far, united the Reds in a way that has rarely been seen before in the club’s history. Indeed, you might say that there is a method to what at times appears to be madness given that as of matchday 13, the Shels sit top of the League of Ireland table.

Apart from giving his team the belief they need to win the league, Duff’s box office antics are also helping to capture the attention of new fans both home and board.

The League of Ireland's skyrocketing popularity 

In particular, local interest in the top flight in Ireland is far higher than it’s ever been. Of course, this isn't solely due to Duff’s return to the Emerald Isle to coach but the fact remains that almost a million people passed through the turnstiles of the country's stadiums last season while TV audiences also rose.

It is remarkable when you consider that the League of Ireland has typically always had to get its elbows out to secure a place in the psyche of the country’s population.

At least, in a landscape teeming with diverse sporting options, from the blood and thunder clashes of rugby union to the traditional lure of the Gaelic games, individuals find themselves amidst a plethora of options to choose from as a pastime. 

Crucially, it's not only sport that the League of Ireland is up against in the quest for the public's attention, it's culture and the pull of online gaming too. 



At least, the once-in-a-lifetime experience of seeing international music acts arriving on Irish shores has tended to dominate how people spend their free time. Likewise, the excitement of iGaming, where online casinos consistently offer generous bonuses to players in Ireland, is another consideration in the ceaseless competition for eyeballs. As touched on though, things are changing. 

Indeed, these days, the much-improved quality of the league has certainly helped convince people that this is a tournament worth their time. Equally, the emergence of captivating characters like Duff who play their part in building compelling narratives is contributing to the league's skyrocketing growth. 

In Duff's specific case, this combative and brutally honest side to him was seldom on display during his playing days as he let his feet do most of the talking while he weaved down the wing.

Looking back, the overall impression of Duff was that he was reserved which is why curious observers who came to love the former Ireland international as an enterprising attacker, are now monitoring events in Ireland with extreme interest.

Duff's second act is one to watch 

It is a case of so far so good for a man who has thrown the manager’s handbook into the Liffey and rather embraced his own unique style. For all of the differing views on Duff's man-management, it is an approach that has the Shels on course to win their first league title in 18 years. 

Yes, while many onlookers might have held their breath at first and even watched through their fingers as Duff marched through the doors of Tolka Park in November 2021, no one can take their eyes off the 45-year-old now.

 

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