Damien Duff feels right at home at Shelbourne, Brendan Clarke is "all in"; things seem to be happening by the banks of the Tolka after a tough year back in the top tier of Irish football.
The famous Dublin club returned to the Premier Division in style, securing the First Division title with six points to spare, however, it was all change in the close season as Duff was named manager ahead of the new campaign.
An Irish legend on the pitch, with a stellar career behind him for both club and country, Duff quickly made his name as an excellent coach, working from schoolboy level at the Shamrock Rovers academy, right up to the highest level with Celtic and Stephen Kenny's Republic of Ireland.
The Shelbourne job was his first chance to show if he could make that step up to head coach and despite a sticky start, the former Chelsea star now appears to have found his feet at his new club and is raising standards throughout.
Securing the status as a Premier Division club was not without its difficulties this season, however, Duff’s side avoided getting embroiled in the relegation battle alongside UCD and Finn Harps, and now with four games to go in the campaign, the Reds are well clear and mathematically secure in the top flight for another season.
And the reward for Duff and his players as the season starts to wind down, is finding themselves one win away from a place in the FAI Cup as they travel to Waterford to contest the semis.
"His remit was to keep us in the division for next year," said goalkeeper Brendan Clarke, speaking to RTE Sport ahead of Sunday’s clash at the RSC.
"We have done that with a few games to spare which is satisfying. ...One thing we did want at the start of the year was a cup run. Someone has to win it, why can’t it be us?
"We have a good enough squad to win four five games in a row and we have proven we are a match for everyone in the country, but we know we need to be at it on Sunday."
Shels, like Waterford, will be delighted to have avoided Derry City in the final-four draw – the Candystripes are playing Treaty United in the other encounter – and while Duff’s side are the top tier club in the battle down in the Déise, the RSC is a tough place to get a result.
Waterford have one of the largest support base in the country, albeit a dormant one in recent years, and being a one-club town, there will be a real buzz inside the stadium with a trip to Dublin and to Lansdowne Road up for grabs.
But Clarke knows what to expect from the home fans and is looking to lead by example to bring his experience into the dressing room to help some of the young players cope with the occasion.
"You’re going down to a city that only has one club in it. I’m sure it is going to be a really hostile atmosphere," said Clarke.
"They are the games you look back on at the end of your career, and hopefully if we win, then it (the Cup final) is definitely one to look forward to
"Naturally, some of the younger players will look to some of the more experienced players for a bit of guidance," said Clarke who has two winners medals, having won the Cup with Sligo in 2012, while helping his boyhood club St Patrick’s Athletic win it in 2014 for the first time in 53 years.
"In terms of the medals, look, they are nice to look back on when you retire, but they don’t mean anything when you are still playing.
"They certainly won’t mean anything on Sunday when we step onto the pitch. It’s all about there here and now."
And while Clarke’s move to Shelbourne was unexpected, leaving Saints and dropping a division, the former Cherry Orchard player said he is delighted he made the call, while he admitted that he is really enjoying working with Duff this season.
"I’ve been absolutely delighted with the decision I have made," said Clarke. "I’m a Shelbourne player. I’m all in."
"It’s really enjoyable (working with Duff)," Clarke added. "If you can’t raise your performances for a manager like that, you probably shouldn’t be playing the game.
"It just shows how all in he is with the club," said Clarke, when mentioned that Duff said a Cup win would be the pinnacle of his career. "He gives everyone 100%. He goes above and beyond what a manager should do. It’s been a really enjoyable year."
Waterford, meanwhile, will be anxious to rain on Duff’s parade as they look to upset the odds as the First Division side in this contest.
The Blues have enjoyed a consistent season in the race for promotion, and while Cork have pipped them to the automatic promotion place, there is still plenty to play for this season, no matter what the result of the Cup clash.
Waterford's top scorer Phoenix Patterson, who was named the SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers Ireland Player of the Month for September – the first player from the club to win the award since Daryl Murphy back in 2004 – believes that his side are more than capable of securing the win over the Premier Division side.
"We’re really looking forward to Sunday, there’s going to be a huge crowd in a packed out stadium and a great atmosphere," said Patterson, speaking to RTE Sport ahead of the game.
"Everyone is very excited. It’s going to be a great day for everyone and we want to make the fans proud. The support all season, home and away, has been amazing, so hopefully we can repay them by getting a win in the semi-final.
"We’ve had a look at Shelbourne. They are a tough team and it’s going to be a difficult challenge
"So hopefully we can play to our strengths play our game and come out with the win."
Waterford have impressed en route to the semi-finals stages, beating two of the Cup favourites, St Patrick’s Athletic and Dundalk in previous rounds, with Patterson scoring the deciding goal against the Lilywhites in the last round – the goal that led to his recent recognition.
And while the former Tottenham and Watford player is gaining admirers for his performances this season, the 22-year-old is not looking beyond the current goal of helping Waterford return to the Premier Division and get to the Cup final.
"I’m just trying to be as consistent as I can, and I’m happy that my goals and performances are helping the team win matches, and our goal is to secure second place and get to the Cup final.
"Right now, with the important games coming up, I haven’t given it too much thought," he added, when asked whether he would ultimately like to return to England. "I’m just focused on my time here at Waterford at the moment and playing well on the pitch.
"Everyone wants to get Waterford back to the Premier Division, where we belong, and the Cup final would be amazing, it would be a great occasion to bring our fans here (to the Aviva Stadium).
"I think they deserve it after everything they have been through recently, so hopefully we can do it for them."
Watch the FAI Cup semi-finals, Derry City v Treaty United and Waterford v Shelbourne, live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player from 1.45 pm on Sunday, listen to live updates on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1 with live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and RTÉ News app
