Man of the Match Shane Duffy talks to RTE Sport about his hopes of making into the Ireland squad for France 2016 Euro finals this summer
IRELAND’S man of the match Shane Duffy believes he has still plenty to do get in manager Martin O’Neill’s squad for Euro 2016 in France.
The Derry man starred for Ireland in his first game in two years, keeping a clean sheet and setting up centre-half partner Ciaran Clarke for the winning goal after just two minutes against Switzerland at the Aviva Stadium lasat night.
But the Blackburn Rovers defender thinks he still has a long way to go before he can start think about making the plane to France.
“It was enjoyable. It was frantic and we had to defend a lot at the end but we got the goal early so it was a good performance from us,” he told RTÉ Sport after the game.
“I just try to get in the game and be sort of a leader and help the people in front of me. I’m just happy we got the clean sheet and we won.
“I’m probably miles off it but I’ve just got to go out there and try see what we can do. I don’t know if the manager’s got his squad picked but all you can do is take your chance.
“Hopefully I’ve something for him, I’ve just tried to go out and enjoy putting the shirt on for Ireland,” said Duffy.
“Everyone wants to play and the lads who got us to the Euros are there. They’ve done all the hard work so I can’t just come in. I’ve got to bide my time and if it’s not this one then it’s the next campaign.
“I’ve got to focus on club football and try to impress. I can’t just come in and takes someone’s place.”
The former Everton man suffered life threatening injuries when he ruptured the blood supply to his liver in a trial game playing for an Ireland development squad against an Ireland amateur side in 2010.
Duffy has come a long way since then, bouncing back after being sold on by the Toffees to Championship side Blackburn.
“It’s probably just consistency,” he explained. “I’m playing regularly and maturing as a centre-half. The way I play, the more games you play the better you get.
“I was very raw two years ago, I still am but I’m playing every week and I’m enjoying it. I’ve just come here to try and impress the manager and the players so you never know.
“You can always improve. We could have kept the ball and played out and there are a lot of things we could have improved on but as a defender you want to keep a clean sheet and be solid. I think we did that as a back four.”
Given his limited game-time with Ireland Duffy says he’s hoping to feature in Tuesday’s friendly against Slovakia which he hopes will boost his chances of getting on the plane to France in June.
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