‘It’s us against the world’ says Shelbourne boss Duff
Shelbourne’s victory over St.Patrick’s Athletic, secured by Ali Coote’s early goal, was shadowed by manager Damien Duff’s ongoing frustration with officiating. Duff, who received another yellow card, feels his team faces an uphill battle. Stephen Kenny, the St. Patrick’s Athletic manager, admitted his team’s first-half performance was lacking, leading to halftime substitutions. News Directory 3 brings you the key details.Duff’s comments reveal a siege mentality. The win propelled Shelbourne up the league table, while St.Patrick’s Athletic seeks to improve. Discover what’s next for both teams in this pivotal football season.
Shelbourne Edges St. Patrick’s Athletic Amid Duff’s Ref Frustrations
Updated June 17, 2025
DUBLIN—Shelbourne defeated St.Patrick’s Athletic 1-0, but the victory was overshadowed by manager Damien Duff’s continued criticism of match officials. Ali coote’s early goal proved decisive in the hard-fought match,handing St. Patrick’s Athletic their first home loss in over a year. The win moves Shelbourne to fifth in the league table.
Duff, already having served a one-match suspension this season, received another yellow card during the game at Richmond Park. This brings him closer to another touchline ban.
“Tonight I have got a yellow card for asking a question,” Duff told reporters. “It’s disappointing, but like I always tell the lads, it’s us against the world and there were numerous things tonight that prove that.”
Duff praised his team’s first-half performance and their defensive resilience in the second half. He acknowledged that while St. Patrick’s Athletic, managed by stephen Kenny, usually excels in transition, they struggled to create clear chances against Shelbourne.
Kenny, the former Republic of Ireland manager, expressed disappointment with his team’s first-half showing. He made three substitutions at halftime,citing an injury to Ryan McLaughlin and tactical changes for Anto Breslin and Jake Mulraney’s removal. Kenny felt the changes improved the team’s performance but they failed to capitalize on created chances.
“The tempo of our passing wasn’t at the level it needed to be,” Kenny said.”we’re disappointed we didn’t take any of the chances we created.”
What’s next
Shelbourne will look to build on this momentum in their upcoming matches, while st. Patrick’s Athletic aims to rebound from consecutive defeats and improve their attacking efficiency.