Shelbourne are brimming with confidence heading into this weekend's FAI Cup final against Derry City at the Aviva Stadium, according to captain Luke Byrne.
The Reds have been consistently improving throughout the season under new manager Damien Duff, rounded off by a win in Waterford to secure their place in this season’s showpiece.
Shelbourne struggled for a run of results and consistent performances at the start of the campaign, however, they ended as a much more cohesive unit, regularly competing with sides at the top half of the table.
One such result was a well-earned 1-1 draw away at the Ryan McBride Brandywell, and it proved a dress rehearsal for Sunday’s clash, coming the week after both sides secured semi-final success.
Avoiding relegation was the main aim for the famous Dublin club as they returned to the top flight of Irish football, while the FAI Cup was an aspiration for rookie manager Duff.
"We’re excited, but we’re very relaxed," said Byrne, speaking to RTE Sport.
"We’ve prepared for this game over the last couple of weeks, analysed Derry and prepared for the game as we would for any other game.
"So the routine has stayed the same and that confidence comes from the preparation. It’s a day to be enjoyed."
Twenty-five points separated Shelbourne and second-placed Derry in the league table this season with Duff’s side ending the campaign in seventh place, however, Byrne is embracing the underdogs tag and is convinced, based on previous meetings, that the Tolka Park club have every chance.
"Derry are the favourites, but they’ve been very close games this season, we’ve beaten them and there has not been a lot between the teams.
"I’ll be expecting similar on Sunday, two teams that are familiar with each other and will have done their homework on each other, but we’re confident."
Shels will be looking at their end-of-season form to take heart ahead of the cup final, coupled with the fact that they have yet to concede in the FAI Cup thus far, although Byrne expects Derry to test them on every front in the Lansdowne Road clash.
And while the Dublin side are lacking experience in their ranks, the message to the younger players is to leave it all on the pitch against the Brandywell side.
"Chances are if you keep a clean sheet, you’ll win the game, you’ve always got a chance," said Byrne.
"It’s a record we’re proud of and we’ll be looking to continue it on Sunday but we know it is going to be a difficult ask against a lot of good players.
"You have to earn it in the cup final, and it’s not going to be easy.
"And we can’t let it pass us by. We have to remind the young players that these opportunities don’t come around too often. A lot of the lads are experiencing this at a young age and that’s what we’ll be reinforcing to them.
"Just go out and leave everything on the pitch and come in with no regrets and if we do that, we are confident that we have enough to win the game."
One player who must sit this one out is Shels attacking midfielder Matty Smith, who is ineligible to play against his parent club in the cup final.
And Byrne was full of praise for his team-mate who proved the perfect professional in the semi-final knowing that he was not going to feature in the decider in such circumstances.
"I was gutted for Matty," said Byrne. "We knew if we won that Matty wouldn’t be allowed to play, but you could see in his performance that day it didn’t matter, and he was doing everything for us to win the game.
"He’ll be here as part of the team on Sunday. We’ve taken to him as a player and a man, and the fans love him and hopefully he can stay beyond this weekend."
As for Byrne, the former Shamrock Rovers defender admits that leading the team out will be the proudest moment of his ten-year League of Ireland career, and he is looking forward to sharing the occasion with the many family and friends in attendance, not to mention the ever-vocal Shelbourne supporters.
"It’s a huge honour to captain this club. It will be the highlight of my career to lead the team out on Sunday and it will be a day I remember forever. My family and friends will be there, but to be honest, while it is all nice, it’s all about winning the game.
"That’s why we are here, it’s why you play football. Big days, big moments. It means as much to the fans as it does to the players and they’re going to be here in their numbers, and they are going to be loud as they have been all season.
"The thought of winning the game doesn’t scare me; it’s a motivating factor, and it’s what we’ll be going out trying to achieve."
And what about the cup final tradition of going suit shopping ahead of the big day out in Dublin 4?
"We’ve been into Diffney’s," said Byrne. "So the lads will be looking sharp on Sunday."
Watch the FAI Cup final, Derry City v Shelbourne, live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player on Sunday from 2.15pm with live radio commentary on RTÉ Radio 1 and follow a live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and RTÉ News app
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