Damien Duff was paid the highest of accolades today when Robbie Keane put him in the same bracket as Ryan Giggs and Harry Kewell. Blackburn winger Duff was the star of the show in the Republic of Ireland's impressive 3-0 victory over Denmark in front of 42,000 fans at Lansdowne Road last night. He continually dazzled the Danish defence with his wizardry and provided the pin-point cross from which Ian Harte opened the scoring, before goals from Keane and Clinton Morrison completed a night of pure positives for manager Mick McCarthy.
Leeds striker Keane led the tributes to Duff when he said: "I put him up there with the Ryan Giggs and Harry Kewells of this world. It is great playing alongside Damien. Mick McCarthy added: "He will no longer be a surprise package at the World Cup - everyone will know about him now. Damien plays a physically demanding game and excels in one-against-one situations. He was outstanding against the Danes."
He continued: "Niall Quinn, sitting beside me in the dug-out, turned to me after just three minutes and said that Damien had already won the man-of-the-match award. How right he was."
Filed by Shane Murray
