Damien Duff, the former Ireland and Chelsea winger, guided Shelbourne to their first League of Ireland title since 2005, calling the achievement the “pinnacle” of his career. Shelbourne’s dramatic 1-0 victory over Derry City was decided by an 84th-minute goal from Harry Wood, a former Manchester United academy player, just as rivals Shamrock Rovers appeared set to claim their fifth straight title. Duff, who won two English Premier League titles, said this triumph “wipes the floor” with his previous accolades, declaring that “Irish football is in my blood.”
The intense title race had five of the league’s 10 teams in contention until the final weeks, reviving interest in Irish football, which often competes with the English Premier League, rugby, and Gaelic games for attention. Duff’s impact as a high-profile manager, along with his lively media presence, has helped reignite fan engagement. The decisive games were broadcast live on RTE, adding to the excitement around Shelbourne’s storied revival.
Shelbourne, a team that dominated Irish football in the early 2000s, fell on hard times and only re-entered the top division shortly before Duff’s arrival in 2021. Despite being 25/1 underdogs at the start of the season, they led for much of the campaign and held their nerve to secure their 14th league title. Reflecting on the club’s journey, Duff said, “There have been dark times for Shelbourne… If you work hard and dedicate your life to it, you can achieve anything.”
