Damien Duff questions Shelbourne’s attitude outside of Dublin derbies after Sligo defeat

The Reds went into Friday’s match at home to Sligo Rovers off the back of successive derby wins. But yet again the Dublin side were less than impressive as Sligo deserved their 2-1 win, secured thanks to a second-half goal from Fabrice Hartmann.

With Monday’s derby away to Bohemians postponed due to international call-ups, the Reds face into games against Dundalk and Waterford before the mid-season break and Duff is puzzled over their lack of intensity against sides like Sligo as the “cheapness” of the goals conceded irked Duff.

“Here, we’ll know again next Friday [at home to Dundalk] because it’s not a Dublin game, it’s only up the road but not a Dublin game. There’s nothing I can do, it’s up to them and how well you motivate yourselves,” Duff said.

“Were the guys motivated? Yes. But it’s just that extra little… you’ll feel it yourself up in the press box, it’s not a Dublin derby, you don’t feel that edge off the pitch, and I feel it. So if there was a criticism it would be that and that you’ll never win anything giving away those goals.

“I’ll never criticise guys for missing chances, the cheapness of the goals and as I said the guys, I still will always aim at that, we still don’t play at the same real intensity and edge of a proper Dublin derby. You can just feel it in the ground.”

He noted the muted atmosphere in Tolka Park but focused on the need for players to inspire the fans, not the other way around.

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“It’s not down to the fans to get the players playing with a real intensity. You’re looking at them going, are they really playing as if their life depended on it? I don’t think so,” he said,

“And it goes hand-in-hand with dropping points maybe. You know Drogheda United, Galway United away, here but that’s me really digging deep, ok at what else can I really aim at them? Not going to criticise them too much, they’ve been excellent and got absolutely outstanding results this year against the top end of the table. It just seems to be when it’s maybe the lower teams that they struggle against.”

Duff admitted it was “strange” that Monday’s fixture was called off as Bohs have two players called up for international duty, with Estonia. “We’ll adapt and take the positives out of it. We’ve lads in there that manage injuries and aches and pains so it’s put back to later on in the season where there’s plenty of time to play the games anyway, I think?

“It’s fine. I wanted to play it, I was desperate to play it but we’ll take the positive out of it.”