Damien Duff: 'The players need to stay calm, remain professional, and get their job done'

Damien Duff feels Friday’s meeting with Bohemians could be significant as Shelbourne’s title bid lurches into single digit games left. Their winless three-game streak in the league is the sort of lull they’ve recovered from throughout the season to stay at the summit, two points ahead of Derry with a game in hand. That’s against Bohemians, whom they host first before an expanded capacity of 4,830 at Tolka Park on a night when Derry travel to Waterford.

Alan Reynolds was in the honeymoon stage of his Gypsies tenure when they prevailed 2-1 at Tolka in April, a period since punctured by a wretched haul of four points from the last 36 available. They’re now just four points off the relegation playoff spot currently occupied by Dundalk. Victory is vital to both sides, for contrasting reasons.

“Tomorrow night could be another significant moment in our season,” declared Shels manager Duff. “It definitely feels that way but we have to remember it’s just like the other nine games in the league between now and the end of the season, and the FAI Cup quarter-final (against Derry). “There’s no doubt the atmosphere will be amazing, and it will be a brilliant experience for the players.

I know some of them won’t have ever experienced anything like it. “The fans might get carried away, that’s fine - but the players need to stay calm, remain professional, and get their job done. “It’s crucial that we don’t get wrapped up in the occasion of it and simply focus.