A potentially defining game in the League of Ireland Men’s Premier Division comes at Tolka Park in Dublin tonight (kick off 7.45 pm) as Shelbourne look to move in on an unlikely league title success.
Standing in their way is Derry City who often have not lived up to their potential, knowing that could also change with their own victory.
Trailing by three points, and with four in a row champions Shamrock Rovers still hovering behind them, the greater need for points is with Derry.
The Candystripes have had a fortnight to get set for this game after their European exit and indeed it’s a month since their last league encounter.
Then Sligo Rovers ended a run of wins for City and coupled with the humiliating exit to FCB Magpies in the Conference League, it wasn’t a happy July at the Brandywell.
Victory in the FAI Cup over St Patrick’s Athletic did offer some consolation.
City boss Ruaidhri Higgins has won that competition already as manager and the expectation was they would go on to greater things.
They have not been able to take the next step
The Candystripes boss refused to admit it was a “must not lose” scenario for his side as they travelled to Dublin tonight.
He said: “We’re going down there to win the game. That’s the ambition and that’s what we’re going to try to do. The players are in great spirits.
“We’ve had good preparation leading into the game. We’ll definitely be going down with the intentions of winning.
“There’s 33 points to play for. I don’t think tonight will be the deciding factor by any stretch. Another thing I would say is Shamrock Rovers are far from dead and buried in opinion and there’s another couple of clubs creeping up behind as well.
“This is a really important game, there is no denying that, but is it going to be the deciding factor? I doubt it.”
A loss would put Shels in a position of great strength ahead of the final series of games.
Not considered a contender at the start of the season, Damien Duff could take his side from newly-promoted to champions with a budget considerably less than the other two challengers, all within three seasons.
Two decades have passed since they last sat at the top table of Irish football.
If Higgins has tried to play down the enormity of, Duff is trying to embrace the scenario.
“Maybe they’ve got bigger names, bigger players that have dealt with these occasions for an awful lot longer than us,” said the former Ireland international.
“At some stage guys have to stand up and be counted and you could argue we have done that over the last couple of years.
“We got to the Cup final against all odds. We got to Europe last year against all odds, been top of the table this year against all odds.
“It’s the business end and in the business end in seasons or in life it’s what people remember and I want our players to be remembered.
“We have [been at the top a long time]. It’s a nice feeling. Let’s stay there. Have the players dealt with the pressure so far? Yeah I think so. It’s one of the many reasons we create a pressurised environment in training every day.
“I want them to be remembered for the right reasons. Go and etch your name in the stars because they deserve it but first and foremost play the game with calmness.
“Yes, with an edge which is just an important, but real calm and clarity in their play.”
Duff has praised Derry despite their European exit and some patchy league form.
He also feels the 90 minutes at Tolka Park is just one of many dramatic moments to come over the next three months.
“Derry have footballing gods in their team,” the Shels boss claimed.
“Ruaidhri has done an amazing job there. There’s a long way to go.
“There has been many swings, turns and roundabouts already. It’s going to be a long and winding road.
“There’s going to be bumps and bruises. Nothing will be straight-forward. If it was, it wouldn’t be worth doing. First and foremost let’s put on a performance and get a positive result.”
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