Shelbourne manager Damien Duff delivered a scathing assessment of his side’s performance on Friday night, admitting he would have been “embarrassed” had they taken anything from their 1-0 defeat to Derry City at Tolka Park.
A second-half strike from Michael Duffy sealed a deserved victory for the visitors in a game where Shelbourne, currently fifth in the table, offered little in response. Duff didn’t hold back post-match, questioning both the motivation and professionalism of his players.
“A bad night, a sobering night,” Duff told reporters. “Didn’t deserve anything from it. We huffed and puffed, but I’d be embarrassed walking home with a point.”
While he acknowledged some half-chances, Duff said the overall lack of intensity and quality from his team was unacceptable. “Zero energy, flatness, absolutely no spark,” he said. “I don’t accept it’s our third game in a week — never have, never will.”
Duff contrasted his own meticulous preparation with what he suspects was a lack of professionalism among his squad. “I prepared for this game like I was playing — proper sleep, nutrition, focus. I’d love to know how many of my players did the same.”
The Shelbourne boss also revealed he had sensed the poor performance coming after a below-par training session on Thursday. “Training was awful,” he said. “I’ve seen it before — good training followed by poor performance and vice versa — but this time I smelled it.”
With Shelbourne now 15 points behind league leaders Shamrock Rovers, Duff admitted he’s unsure what kind of response to expect ahead of Monday’s away fixture against Waterford.
“For three years, we’ve always bounced back. Now, I don’t know,” he said. “Monday there will be changes. But who knows what to expect from us anymore? That’s damning — and that’s on me.”
The manager lamented the lack of leadership within the dressing room, saying he has offered players the chance to take ownership, but it’s still him and his staff driving the energy.
“I’m trying to drag the team forward, trying to wake them up — but they never woke up,” Duff said.
Shelbourne will be looking for answers — and a reaction — as they prepare to travel to the RSC for what could prove a crucial match in their season.
