Harry Wood has emphasised that his full focus has been on “getting fit as possible” after a somewhat underwhelming campaign for the attacker last season despite scoring the goal that won Shelbourne their first League of Ireland title since 2006.
Wood had a mixed 2024 with a difficult loan spell at Grimsby Town for the second half of the League Two season and then made a much anticipated move back to Shelbourne in July after becoming a fan favourite at Tolka Park in 2023. The former Manchester United graduate said he had “unfinished business” at Shels and, by god, was he right.
The attacker would only score one goal from July to November but it was the most important one he's scored to date. 85 minutes on the clock, with the score tied at 0-0 at the Brandywell, Harry Wood got on the end of a shot spilled by Brian Maher to win Shels the game and ending Shamrock Rovers' quest for five-in-a-row.
𝟭𝟮 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 🎅🏻
On the 12th goal of Christmas Harry Wood scored the goal to make the Reds champions of Ireland 🎁#DublinsFinest | #Since1895 pic.twitter.com/fZBxzQbBmu— Shelbourne FC 🏆 (@shelsfc) December 25, 2024
Despite the fact that Wood had the moment that sent Tolka Park into a frenzy, he is not content with settling at that.
“Scoring the goal was surreal. I couldn't have asked for a better ending to the season but personally I didn't perform to the levels that I knew I could perform to. As soon as it finished it was straight back done to training to get fit as possible so I can prove to people what I can add to the team,” the Yorkshire native told Balls.ie.
This will be Harry’s first pre-season as a Shelbourne footballer with both of his previous campaigns with the club starting mid-season. This is something he feels will massively benefit him.
He stated:
“It's great (to have pre-season as a Shels player), I haven't had a proper pre-season in a while. It's been great to play games and get my fitness up. Come February 7th, hopefully everyone will be able to see the effort I’ve put in this pre-season.
2025 will be the clubs first time playing in the Champions League qualifiers since 2005 and with what Shamrock Rovers have achieved qualifying for the knockout stage of the Conference League, it has given them great hope that Shels can also create some special moments in Europe.
On playing in Europe - Harry said, “It’s a really exciting time for the club, playing in the Champions League for the first time in a long while with our ambition in every competition is to win it or go as far as we can. It would be unbelievable to go on a run like what Shamrock Rovers have done, we’re all looking forward to it.”
You can watch Wood and Shelbourne on Friday, 14th February, live on Virgin Media Two when the Champions host Derry City, as Damien Duff’s side face the Candystripes in a rematch of the dramatic final night of the 2024 season. The game will be live on Virgin Media Two.
This week, VMTV unveiled a four-year landmark broadcast agreement which will see 36 matches shown this year, with a live fixture in each round of the season.