The key moments as Shelbourne defied odds to claim Premier Division title

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When Damien Duff took charge as Shelbourne's first-team boss in November 2021, few could have envisioned their rapid ascent to the summit of the Premier Division. 

But here we are. 

Last Friday night, Shels ended an 18-year-long wait to lift their first League of Ireland crown since 2006 following a remarkable title race. 

For a time last year, it seemed as though Duff would depart the Tolka Park outfit after guiding them to fourth place before Hull City owner Acun Ilicali relinquished control of the club.

They lost key man Jack Moylan to Lincoln City too. 

But this was Shelbourne’s year - and deservedly so - despite the setbacks at the end of last season. 

Shels were top of the pile since March and led throughout - apart from a few days in August.

The Reds dropped 0 points from winning positions.

They had the meanest defence too - with only 27 goals against - and only conceded more than twice in a match once all season with Conor Kearns, Sean Gannon and Paddy Barrett all playing key roles. This was no fluke.



But hey, enough of the hyperbole, let’s take a look at the key moments which propelled the Reds to a deserved title. 

First win over Shamrock Rovers at Tolka Park since May 2005

Following an opening night draw away to Waterford, Shelbourne welcomed Ringsend rivals Shamrock Rovers to Tolka Park for their first home league game of the campaign. 

And having failed to defeat the Hoops at Tolka Park since May 2005 prior to this showdown, few could have expected Shels to win this one. Though Rovers were missing Jack Byrne, Graham Burke, Neil Farrugia and Trevor Clarke. 

But Shels believed and captain Mark Coyle - who declared before the game that he felt his side was not far off the Hoops - opened the scoring with a fine finish in the 17th minute after Tyreke Wilson missed an earlier spot-kick.



Will Jarvis then doubled the Reds’ advantage before the half-hour mark. Then came a Rovers onslaught with Rory Gaffney firing his side back into it in the 49th minute. Shels held on though, sparking pandemonium.

Was this an early sign of their title ambitions? Maybe.

But this was a significant mental block that Duff and his side cleared early on.  

Shels stay on top despite tricky Dublin derbies

After seeing off Stephen Bradley’s side, further victories against Sligo Rovers (1-0) and Galway United (1-0) sent Shels top. 

But two crunch games away to Bohemians and St Patrick’s Athletic were to come. 

Shelbourne had never won away to Bohs at Dalymount Park with Duff as their manager, while St Pat’s - who were managed by Jon Daly at the time - were struggling but tipped to bounce back sooner rather than later.

The Reds ominously sailed through both tests.

Their trip to Phibsborough yielded a 2-0 victory, though they had to wait until the 80th minute to break the deadlock via a Jarvis penalty. Gavin Molloy then sealed it five minutes later. Bohs boss Declan Devine was relieved of his duties just days after the game but Shels were on a roll. 

They headed to Inchicore on St Patrick’s weekend to take on the Saints with purpose - with Jarvis' brace yielding a 2-1 triumph.

Shels were now quietly being spoken about as genuine title contenders. 

Evan Caffrey stuns Saints to kickstart title hopes

Shelbourne were likely to endure a dip in performance levels after their fine start and they got that after defeating Dundalk at home at the end of March. 

Just one victory in nine followed - though they only lost twice during that frustrating run. Those defeats came away to Galway United and at home to Bohemians.

With momentum hard to come by, they visited Richmond Park in May to face a St Pat’s side who were now managed by former Ireland boss Stephen Kenny. The stakes were high.

Though Sean Boyd handed the Reds a first-half lead in front of the Virgin Media TV cameras in Dublin 8, a stunning Jake Mulraney free-kick levelled it in the 73rd minute.

But boss Duff saw his side pull a win out of the hat in the sixth minute of second-half injury time.

Evan Caffrey picked up the ball on the edge of the box before finding the corner of the net through a sea of St Patrick’s Athletic bodies to win it. 

If you were unsure of Shels’ staying power after that victory, they showed their mettle away to Shamrock Rovers just a few days later with a 2-0 victory over the Hoops at Tallaght Stadium. 

It was the seventh point the Reds claimed against Rovers inside three months as Jarvis netted a brace.

What seemed like a dream at the start of the season - reflected by their pre-season odds of 25-1 to lift the title - was now becoming a reality.

Shelbourne had a chance of winning its first Premier Division crown since 2006.

Summer setbacks take toll

With Shelbourne in form before the summer break, they were thriving with the likes of Jarvis and Molloy at the forefront of their good play. 

But with a return to European football looming, Molloy left the Reds to join Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen on June 14. 

While it seemed a shock at the time, it was a move that Shels boss Duff could do little to turn down with the Dons exercising a release clause in Molloy's contract. 

Molloy did at least help Shels to a clean sheet in his last game at the club with a 1-0 triumph over then-European chasing Waterford at the RSC.

A win over Galway United (1-0) followed upon the league’s resumption before a European tie against Gibraltarians St Joseph’s.

They then laboured to an FAI Cup win over First Division Bray Wanderers, which led to Duff saying that he was ‘disgusted’ by his side’s ‘arrogance’ at the Carlisle Grounds. 

They could not shake that off in time for their league clash against Derry City in early August which they drew 0-0. The Reds lost away to Sligo Rovers (2-1) shortly after.  

Talisman Jarvis was recalled from his loan at the club by parent club Hull City following the draw against Derry.

Harry Wood, Rayhaan Tulloch and former Ireland international Aiden O’Brien did join during the summer though - but Molloy and Jarvis were the standout performers in the Premier Division prior to their exits. 

All the while, champions Shamrock Rovers were starting to kick into gear, as were St Pat’s who were reinvigorated by their impressive European run which brought them to the Conference League play-off round. 

When Shels defeated Dundalk 1-0 away in late August, they had only picked up 10 points from a possible 18 during the summer. O'Brien's winner at Oriel Park proved crucial down the line though.

A draw against Bohemians (1-1) was backed up by three defeats in four against Galway United (1-0), St Patrick’s Athletic (3-2) and Shamrock Rovers (2-0).

They also drew 0-0 at home to Sligo Rovers and bowed out of the FAI Cup away to Derry City. 

But Shels were helped by closest challenger Derry City’s inability to make the most of their slip-ups as the Candystripes drew at home twice in one weekend against Bohemians (1-1) and Sligo Rovers (1-1) to lose their grip on the title race in October. 

Despite one victory in nine matches, Shels were still top and had a relatively favourable run-in to come. Though Shamrock Rovers were back in the race.

Shels were close at this point, even if the likes of Galway United and Sligo both threatened a late surge for the title.

Pivotal back-to-back wins regain momentum

After enduring a wretched run at seemingly the wrong time with Shamrock Rovers breathing down their necks, Shels had a 12-day gap to compose themselves.

They used their downtime to full effect, winning 3-1 over Waterford at Tolka Park with 4,755 crammed into the Drumcondra venue.

Incredibly, it was the first game all season that Shels won after going behind. If there was ever a time to do it, it was then. 

That meant two more wins would seal the title.

Drogheda United were then brushed aside a week later with Sean Boyd and Tulloch both scoring. Bridel Bosakani made it nervy though when he scored a stunner but Shels held on.

And crucially, it was also the night when Derry City’s hopes also ground to a halt after they fell to a defeat against St Pat’s.

There were only two left now - Shels and Shamrock Rovers. A pivotal final day was in store.

Wood you believe it?

The title race was always likely to go down to the wire, and that is what happened with a final-day battle to decide the destiny of the title. 

Shels had to win to claim the title away to Derry City, though the Candystripes had nothing to play for at this stage.

Only Rovers could deny Shels now.

The Hoops had to win against Waterford though to have any chance - and they did with a 2-1 triumph, ensuring a nervy night for Shelbourne.

But Wood stepped up to win it in the 85th minute at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.

It sparked jubilant scenes among the 300-strong away end at the Foyleside venue with 1,000-plus more watching on via big screens at Tolka Park. 

It was a night that the Shels players, staff and supporters will never forget, with boss Duff declaring it a Hollywood story.

He said: “You can talk about Leicester City in the Premier League a few years back and Hollywood stories, this is a Hollywood story.

“No disrespect to the great Shelbourne teams and managers who have won titles before but for me, this is the greatest story.”

A Hollywood story it most certainly was. Shelbourne are 2024 League of Ireland champions - a remarkable feat.

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