Damien Duff was utterly ecstatic on Friday night, as his Shelbourne side clinched the League of Ireland title in dramatic circumstances in Derry.
Shels knew that a win on the final day would guarantee them the league title and they could scarcely have thought of a better way to do it than the nail-biting finish to Friday's games.
As the clock ticked down both at the Brandywell and at Tallaght Stadium, it looked as though Shamrock Rovers were set to hold on to the trophy for a fifth year in a row. Goals from Johnny Kenny and Dylan Watts had Rovers 2-1 up, while the game in Derry remained scoreless.
Ultimately, the hero of the day was an unlikely one. English striker Harry Wood was given only 15 minutes to make his impact off the bench for Shelbourne and he did so in the most spectacular fashion.
As Sean Boyd's 84th minute free-kick ping-ponged around the penalty area, Wood was the quickest to react and prodded home from just six yards.
Just six minutes on the clock, and the balance had completely shifted.
It was a finish befitting of this most dramatic of title races and secured Shelbourne's 14th League of Ireland title - 18 years after their last.
Manager Damien Duff could be seen in tears at full-time, as Shels fans swarmed the pitch to celebrate one of the most dramatic title wins in recent memory.
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Damien Duff in tears as Shelbourne win first league title since 2006
Damien Duff's impact since taking over at Shelbourne in 2022 has been transformative, and his work thus far culminated in Friday's sensational league title win.
The former Ireland star has been one of the biggest stories of this League of Ireland season, as have his Shelbourne team. Despite major questions being asked of them amid a dire mid-season run of form, they have held firm to clinch the trophy right at the death.
RTÉ's cameras picked up Duff in tears as he embraced members of his staff on the pitch at full-time, and he energetically went to his players one by one, grasping each of them in a warm embrace.
Another lovely moment picked up by the cameras showed Duff taking the time to go over to the Derry fans who had remained in the stadium. Duff graciously applauded them for the role they played in an electric atmosphere at the Brandywell.
Irish Independent writer Daniel McDonnell shared this clip to Twitter.
The Derry City fans responded in turn with gracious applause for the newest league-winning manager.
It was a lovely moment to conclude a topsy-turvy campaign and one that garnered appreciation from fans on social media.
A moment that sums up the man at the centre of Shelbourne's league title win, and the home fans who graciously welcomed the new champions of Ireland on Friday night.
