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'Gutted' Duff highlights positives after Shels defeat

Updated / Friday, 18 Feb 2022 23:17
Damien Duff: "I'm glad it's out of the way."
Damien Duff: "I'm glad it's out of the way."

Damien Duff said he was relieved to get his first Airtricity League Premier Division game as Shelbourne boss over and done with as he praised his side for a spirited display in defeat to St Patrick's Athletic.

The clinical Saints impressed in the second half to earn a 3-0 win at Tolka Park but that didn't tell the whole story, with Shels seeing a second-minute Dan Carr goal chalked off for offside and creating decent opportunities throughout.

It was a typically frenetic, full-blooded opening-night derby, and Duff took heart from what he saw.

"I'm glad it's out of the way now, we can move on with the rest of the season," he told RTÉ Sport.

"The lads are devastated in there. Pat's have won the game just on transition, counter-attacking football. That's what we warned them about.

"When they had the ball we never really felt threatened. It was our mistakes really. With the ball, I couldn't ask any more of them. I think we created a lot of chances, a lot of opportunities.

"I'm disappointed, gutted for the boys because they put so much into it but we roll on to next Friday."

Tim Clancy meanwhile was thrilled to get off the mark.

The ex-Drogheda United manager has taken the reins in Inchicore from Stephen O'Donnell, and could be satisfied with a good night's work.

"There was very little in the game in the first half," he said. "Darragh [Burns] cuts inside and buries one from 20 yards, 25 yards and it gives us a foothold in the game which we were able to build on in the second half.

"Chris [Forrester] has the quality to match any player in this league, and many league that would be perceived to be higher than this level. He's had a great pre-season. Tonight I thought he controlled it the game."

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