Though Damien Duff will be thrilled with how his Shelbourne side are performing on the pitch, he was understandably left "embarrassed" by the shocking scenes from the crowd during Friday's draw at Drogheda United.
Shels are top of the league and unbeaten after the first round of fixtures, after a hugely impressive opening run which has seen them win six from nine.
One of those draws came at Weaver Park on Friday night, in an entertaining clash with Drogs which ultimately finished up 2-2 after a last-gasp equaliser for the Dublin side from Sean Boyd.
The game was overshadowed, however, when linesman Dermot Broughton was struck by a flare thrown from the Shelbourne end during the aftermath to Boyd's goal. The players were withdrawn from the field of play for a lengthy pause, as Broughton was treated by medical staff.
A hefty sanction from the FAI feels inevitable for Shelbourne and, speaking to Balls.ie and the Irish media on Tuesday, manager Duff said that the club could have no complaints.
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Damien Duff speaks sense on "league problem" after Shelbourne game suspended
9 April 2024; Manager Damien Duff poses for a portrait during a Shelbourne media conference at Tolka Park in Dublin. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
Damien Duff spoke at a press event in Tolka Park ahead of Friday night's sold-out Dublin derby against local rivals Bohemians. He appeared to suggest, however, that the club may have to prepare for their next away game against Galway without travelling support, as they await confirmation of their punishment for Friday night's incident.
Livid on the night in Drogheda, Duff said on Tuesday he was somewhat calmer about the incident in retrospect. Though condemning the actions of the fans in question, Duff said that he would be slow to "slaughter" the culprit, especially after hearing word that it may have been a young fan who made the dreadful mistake:
I've obviously calmed down. It was a horrible sight. I was angry, embarrassed as everyone was at the club. It hurt the fans as well, whether they found the person or what.
Again on me, angry and emotional and probably quick to slaughter the person. At the same time I'm keen to help as well. You hear rumours that it was a young boy or whatever, young enough that they shouldn't have been there.
I want to help the league, I want to help the club and I want to help these people.
I'm sure he's grossly embarrassed and gone underground but you can't just leave him be as well. When I said come down to the training ground, it wasn't to get him a headlock or anything. No, just have a chat.
I'm sure the person has learned. Quick to vilify and by my tone you would have got that, but I want to help as well.
It was an ugly sight in Weaver Park and one for which Shels will rightly expect punishment, though Duff's fresh perspective of understanding towards the culprit may go a long way to dissuading their fans from repeat offences.
5 April 2024; Drogheda United players leave the pitch after assistant referee Dermot Broughton was struck by pyrotechnics from the Shelbourne supporters during the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between Drogheda United and Shelbourne at Weavers Park in Drogheda, Louth. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
Perhaps a more prudent point made by Duff on Tuesday was that this problem stretches far wider than Tolka Park. A similar incident earlier this year saw Bohs' Cian Byrne hit by a flare from his own fans. Duff also cited incidents from other games in last week's round of fixtures which had gone under the radar involving glass bottles and vapes being thrown onto the pitch.
Keen to stress he was not downplaying Shelbourne's offence, Duff nonetheless made clear that this is a "league problem" and that more should be done to come up with lasting solutions:
I'm no angel, I have made loads of mistakes in my life. I'm certainly no angel and I have said the wrong thing probably many things, as you would agree with that, and done the wrong thing. I'm no angel.
I was pointing the finger on Friday night but I want to help. It is a young fan base and from a positive point of view that's why the crowds are growing.
But at the same time, and I think I said it here a month ago, I can't see how the crowds would suffer but with things like this the crowds could suffer - Mauro being racially abused, feeling safe at the game, it would stop the next group of young fans coming as they wouldn't feel safe.
I had a young kid at a game, a Shelbourne fan, not feeling safe and given him, not a kiss and a cuddle (laughs), but just a big hug and here 'you'll be alright, I'll look after you'. You want to feel safe and if you don't feel safe you're not going to want to go to the game.
It has to stop. Granted we're in the news and it's our problem at the minute and it's a Shelbourne problem. I'd like to think it will never happen again, especially when I'm here.
But I have to say, and I don't think anyone can argue, it's a league problem. It's rife around the league...I said it after the game on Friday, it's a league problem and it needs to be sorted sooner rather than later.
Shelbourne's next assignment is a north Dublin derby against Bohemians on Friday night. Kick-off at 7:45pm at Tolka Park, with the game live on RTÉ 2.
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