Damien Duff was left fuming on Monday night after Shane Farrell saw red with Shelbourne's top-of-the-table clash with Shamrock Rovers hanging in the balance.
After a dream start to the League of Ireland season saw Shels go unbeaten and claim 21 points from the first round of fixtures, things have been trickier of late for the league leaders.
Going into Monday night's televised clash with Shamrock Rovers, Shels found themselves winless in their previous four League of Ireland games and needing a statement win against the defending Premier Division champions.
They were much improved from their recent defeats against Bohemians and Galway United, and looked to have been capable of pushing for a winner when Shane Farrell was sent off with just under 15 minutes to go.
Shels would see out a 0-0 draw to remain four points clear at the top of the table, but manager Duff was fuming with Farrell in his post-match interview.
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Shelbourne v Shamrock Rovers: No holding back for Damien Duff in post-match interview
Damien Duff himself was booked during the game for protesting against the referee, but he was livid to see Farrell sent off at a crucial stage of the game.
23-year-old Farrell was introduced after 64 minutes and was booked by referee Rob Hennessy just three minutes later. Only nine minutes later, Farrell received a second yellow and was sent off.
𝐇𝐄'𝐒 𝐎𝐅𝐅!! 🟥
Substitute Shane Farrell receives a second yellow card from referee Rob Hennessy. #SHESHA | #LOI pic.twitter.com/VSdFPzbSEt— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) April 22, 2024
It made for a nervy conclusion for Shelbourne, and manager Damien Duff pulled no punches in his post-match interview with Virgin Media:
With 20 minutes to go and you go down to 10 men...we'll take the point but we back ourselves to beat anyone in this country, home or away.
He deserved to go off.
I don't think he played with intensity, and I don't think he's played with an intensity for a long, long time.
How you live your life off the pitch, it ends up biting you back on the pitch. [It's] poor from him, he's cost his teammates. 20-25 minutes [to go], we looked fit, we looked strong, we bring on Boydy and go two up top, you think you might nick the win. It was all about salvaging a draw after that.
23-year-old Farrell has only started one game for Shelbourne this season, and he has certainly done nothing to further endear himself to Duff with Monday's incident.
💬 "He deserved to go off. I don't think he played with intensity. I don't think he's played with an intensity for a long time."
Damien Duff pulls no punches after Shane Farrell's late sending off against Shamrock Rovers. #SHESHA | #LOI pic.twitter.com/2tZsIVoSdf— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) April 22, 2024
Duff went on to double down on his comments in further media interviews.
The former Ireland international made specific comments about Farrell's approach off the pitch, sharing his belief once again that "life off the pitch" reflects action on the pitch. In one particularly damning comment, Duff said, "I get he's a fan favourite and what have you, but he hasn't deserved to play. Not one bit. Flashes. I could go on and give you flash - I'm 45 and I can't walk."
Despite his visible frustration with Farrell, there was nonetheless satisfaction for the Shelbourne boss that his side had earned a draw - and he expressed his hope that these performances would become the norm:
Sometimes a bit of tough love, harsh words earlier on in the week...later on in the week. I probably wasn't even speaking to them, they weren't speaking to me. It's what my wife does to me when I'm in trouble, and she gets a better husband at the end of it!
Just honesty, that's all I've ever given them. Like I say, they've bounced back but, as I told them there, you shouldn't always wait for a Dublin derby to play on the edge and with a real intensity. It has to be every week.
Shelbourne's next assignment is another Dublin derby against St. Patrick's Athletic on Friday night at Tolka Park.
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