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Irish Times
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Live Champions League qualifiers: Shelbourne host Qarabag in second round tie
Champions League second round qualifier, first leg: Shelbourne v Qarabag, Tolka Park, 7.45pm 1 minute ago Here's how Shels line out for the evening: 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝗫𝗜 Your 𝙍𝙚𝙙𝙨 𝙓𝙄 is confirmed to face Qarabag FK! Kick-off at 7:45pm, live on — Shelbourne FC 🏆 (@shelsfc) 6 minutes ago Evening all! Welcome along to The Irish Times live blog for Shelbourne's Champions League qualifier against Qarabag FK. The game kicks off at Tolka Park at 7.45pm. We'll be keeping you updated on all the action, with a match report from Gavin Cummiskey to follow shortly after the final whistle.
Irish Times
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Mipo Odubeko on target against Linfield to give Shelbourne upper hand for trip to Windsor Park
Champions League: Shelbourne 1 (Odubeko 58) Linfield 0 Shelbourne will have regrets but Mipo Odubeko settled this meeting of Dublin and Belfast institutions with a striker's finish. Sean Boyd picked out his strike partner and despite the attention of two Linfield defenders, Odubeko's left foot chip proved the only goal on a memorable European night. 'I love scoring goals for Shelbourne, this is the stage I want to play on,' said Odubeko. For 90 minutes and change Shelbourne looked like the best team on the island of Ireland. Tolka Park was draped in red, besides 250 visitors in royal blue, as this Champions League qualifier instantly settled into one-way traffic. Statistics tell the story of the first-half: Shelbourne had nine corners, Linfield had none. Shels created eight chances, but only two were on target. Whenever Linfield broke out of their airtight defensive set-up, they gave up possession. Cheaply. David Healy's men did not want the ball. The plan seemed simple: escape home to Windsor Park for next Wednesday's second-leg with a valuable 0-0. Linfield's Kieran Offord is challenged by Shelbourne's Kerr McInroy and Kameron Ledwidge. Photograph:The Northern Ireland Football League champions looked fresh out of preseason as Shels pounded the empty-terrace-end goal with Kerr McInroy and Harry Wood a few rungs above the general standard. It was not a night to miss a chance from point-blank range but that is what Evan Caffrey managed in the seventh minute. The opportunity came after Euan East was treated on the pitch for a head injury when Wood thumped a shot into the back of his skull. On seeing East in distress, Portuguese referee Luis Godinho halted play and signalled for the Linfield medic. After an on-field examination – the follow my finger test and a light shined in the player's eyes – play resumed with East quickly returned to the action. Moments later, Caffrey directed a free header into the legs of Linfield goalkeeper Chris Johns. He was free because East fell over. There was a loud penalty shout in the 22nd minute, which prompted Godinho to point to the spot, but VAR reversed the decision as replays showed Jonathan Lunney's shot hitting Ben Hall's arm. The arm was firmly attached to the defender's body. No penalty. Referee Luis Godinho awards Shelbourne a penalty that is later disallowed by VAR. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho Hall and teenager Matthew Orr appeared to enjoy the constant onslaught, passing Odubeko between them, as they invited the League of Ireland champions to pick them apart. Even their big centre forward Matthew Fitzpatrick looked like a dominant centre-half as Wood whipped corner after corner into the mixer. Linfield were disciplined, staying in a low block and working themselves to the bone. They were not shy in the tackle either as Josh Archer and skipper Jamie Mulgrew earned yellow cards for heavy challenges on McInroy and Ali Coote. Ethan McGee even got forward to get a shot on target before the break. The sideline was quiet in comparison to the combustible, theatrical interactions to which Tolka had grown accustomed under Damien Duff. Shelbourne's new manager Joey O'Brien is less emotional under the bright lights. There was the odd encouraging clap, where Duff used to regularly roar instructions. The worry for Shelbourne's high-paced, lateral approach was that the stifling conditions would take their toll. It is easier to defend under a beating sun. Wood was classy on the ball but Linfield's blue wall continually forced Caffrey or Paddy Barrett to curl crosses into the danger zone. Meat and drink for Hall. Next, Odubeko might have thought he was offside when McInroy clipped a pass that gave him a clear run on Johns' goal. His first touch let him down. Linfield's Ethan McGee and Shelbourne's Ali Coote battle for the ball. Photograph: Damien Eagers/PA O'Brien reacted to a growing malaise by telling Sean Boyd, Daniel Kelly and Tyreke Wilson to warm-up nine minutes into the second-half. Odubeko survived the triple substitution as Boyd joined him up front. Hall was immediately under pressure from two big centre forwards, beating Boyd in the air before Odubeko got the better of him from the next leap. Boyd took the breaking ball and picked out Odubeko for a cool finish beyond Johns. That's three goals in three games for the former Republic of Ireland under-21 after he went scoreless in the 11 outings before Duff's resignation. Shels should have killed off the tie. Boyd missed the target with a header as only five of 19 attempts found the target. Both sets of supporters were sated; there were standing ovations when Wood and Odubeko were called ashore while the Linfield fans belted out God Save the King and Rule Britannia. Shelbourne: Kearns; Ledwidge, Barrett, Coyle; Caffrey (Kelly 56), McInroy, Lunney, Norris (Wilson 56); Wood (Chapman 78), Coote (Boyd 56); Odubeko (Martin 88). Linfield: Johns; Orr, East, Hall, McCullough; Archer, Mulgrew (McKee 72), McGee; Miller, Fitzpatrick, Morrison (Offord 72). Referee: Luis Godinho (Portugal).
Irish Times
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Shelbourne aim to launch new era in Champions League clash with Linfield
Champions League qualifying, first round, first leg: Shelbourne v Linfield, Tolka Park, Wednesday, 7.45pm – Live RTÉ2, Premier Sports As the final touches were happening around Tolka Park on Tuesday afternoon, Shelbourne 's people were out in force. The club's co-owner Neil Doyle, chairman Mickey O'Rourke and chief executive Tomás 'Mossy' Quinn engaged with the media before and after Joey O'Brien held his first formal press conference as manager. They all sounded as excited as the 3,655 reduced-capacity crowd probably will when they cram into the old ground for Wednesday night's Champions League first-round qualifier against the Northern Ireland league winners Linfield. The second leg takes place at Windsor Park in Belfast next Wednesday. The Drumcondra venue has been a hive of activity this week as volunteers and staff were busy readying the club shop and manicured pitch for the all-Ireland tie. READ MORE Almost everyone was present, all except one man, Damien Duff , who resigned as Shelbourne manager on June 22nd. O'Brien choose not to mention Duff – his 'friend forever' – by name on the eve of a two-legged affair that is worth €1.71 million to the victors, and a second-round meeting with Azerbaijan champions Qarabag. The loser is guaranteed €960,000 and more Uefa prize money by being rerouted to a Conference League qualifier against either the Maltese or Lithuanian champions. 'To be honest, a lot has changed but a lot hasn't changed, really,' said O'Brien, trying to explain the void Duff left behind. 'It's still the same sort of thing; I'm coaching every day, I'm out on the pitch every day. 'I had a great relationship with the manager before, I would have had a lot of say in a lot of meetings. So in a way a lot has changed, but in a strange way nothing really has changed, if you know what I mean. 'I pick the team now, I suppose, but again I'm picking the team with the staff and previously I was helping the manager pick the team.' Seemingly, O'Brien used to play bad cop to Duffer's good cop when it came to motivating the players. Mipo Odubeko looks to have regained his scoring form at the right time for Shelbourne. Photograph: James Lawlor/Inpho The 39-year-old former Shamrock Rovers defender still refers to the fracturing of their 3½ year double act as 'shocking.' Shelbourne cannot afford to stand still and mourn Duff's departure. Progress to the Champions League second round, by beating a Linfield side that recently lost its best player Joel Cooper to Coleraine, would greatly increase their chances of securing a place in the Conference League group stages, which unlocks an eye-watering amount of Uefa prize money. Shamrock Rovers banked €6.391 million from their run to the knock-out stages of last season's competition. Shels have published losses of €3.5 million over the past three years, so the guaranteed €3.17 million for reaching the Conference group stages would make that expenditure worthwhile. Since O'Brien stepped into Duff's shoes, their form has improved, with two draws on the road and last week's 3-1 defeat of Cork City. 'I think people from the outside look at our league position [fifth] and think we've been really bad, but if they looked at all our games we have dominated most of them,' said O'Brien. 'We have not scored enough goals from the chances we have created and conceded really poor goals. 'But the quality of player in that dressingroom is a massive reason I want to be here and lead this team. It is a serious squad.' What jumped out from Friday's win against Cork was the sight of Mipo Odubeko calmly slotting his second goal in as many games following an 11-match barren spell. Still only 22, the former Manchester City youth player has shown glimpses of being the best striker on the island, without consistently finding the net. If Odubeko can rise to the occasion, there might not be much David Healy's Linfield can do about it. 'In the last few games he's been really, really good,' O'Brien agreed. 'When he is on it, he's a handful, sometimes he can be unplayable. So hopefully he is that over this tie.' Considering that Shelbourne have the superior squad on paper and Linfield are in preseason, they really should take a lead to Belfast next week.
Irish Times
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
What comes next for Damien Duff could be as enigmatic as the man himself
Damien Duff has always been a man of contradiction . First there was the big-noise teenager who turned out to be quite quiet, actually; a wide-eyed winger focused on sleep. Then there was the foreseeable yet unstoppable elusiveness. Opposition defenders knew Duff would drop a shoulder and jink, yet even armed with this knowledge, were invariably unable to prevent him going past them. Then there was Damien Duff the manager who, despite his name and fame, took over at just-promoted Shelbourne at closure-threatened Tolka Park. In the League of Ireland. It looked a mismatch. But the golden child met the problem child with a sincerity of conviction that swept Shelbourne and the League itself along. Of course, there were other factors, including the post-Covid rise in interest and attendances, as well as improved results by some clubs in Europe. But Duff helped the League onto the back pages and then, when Shels clinched the title at the Brandywell last November, onto the front pages. In terms of sporting culture, this was a step-change. READ MORE It wasn't just about Damien Duff, some said. It was all about Damien Duff. We are still scrambling to comprehend last Sunday's walkout , but those who believe the latter, that Duff is me-me-me, have to reckon with the fact that if Duff had this selfish managerial career-path strategy, the 100-cap Irish international and former Chelsea Premier League winner would hardly have chosen Shelbourne as his starting point. Tolka Park has its charms, but have you seen Celtic's Lennoxtown training ground? Did you notice that vacancy at QPR on the green borders of Fulham and Chelsea? Duff, moreover, would not have stayed 3½ years at Shelbourne had his commitment not been total – 'always on', '24/7' as he and everyone at Shels said. Damien Duff resigned as Shelbourne manager last Sunday, following a home defeat to Derry City two days earlier. Photograph: Dan Clohessy From stability to a cup final to Europe and then to Shelbourne winning the title for the first time in 18 years, Duff worked. He worked hard. And now, here we are at the point where all that work has produced a Champions League qualifier. Five days after the draw brought an all-island, All-Ireland tie against Linfield, Duff exited. His departure was in keeping with his arrival in late 2021 – unforeseen – but the timing is, again, contradictory. Scanning the print editions of nine English newspapers on Monday morning, there was only one mention of Duff leaving Shelbourne It is possible to decry the Champions League as an entity, its continental economics growing ever-more domestically distorting, but for clubs of Shelbourne's scale it can be transformational. It offers a route into the Europa League and Conference League as well as the prestige, and money, of this Champions League round. For an ambitious Irish manager, it also offers profile; for an ambitious Irish manager with an alert agent, it is success in Europe that changes perspective in the British market. Doing good things at Sligo Rovers or Shamrock Rovers may be evidence of ability, but it is an unexpected victory in Europe that provokes boardroom intrigue elsewhere. Stephen Kenny's arrival at Dunfermline in 2006 came three months after his Derry City team had won 5-1 at Gretna in the Uefa Cup. That came after Derry had knocked out IFK Gothenburg in the previous round. When Derry then drew 0-0 with Paris St Germain in the next round, Dunfermline, in Scotland's top-flight, were sure they had their man. Damien Duff on the sideline next to St Patrick's Athletic manager Stephen Kenny during a recent Dublin derby at Richmond Park. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho Kenny had demonstrated capabilities to an audience beyond the Brandywell or Dalymount Park. When he repeated European progression at Dundalk, ultimately it led to Kenny becoming manager of Ireland. When Michael O'Neill guided Shamrock Rovers into the group stage of the 2011-12 Europa League via the elimination of Partizan Belgrade, he turned heads beyond Tallaght and was soon manager of Northern Ireland. From there O'Neill went to Stoke City in the Championship and back to Northern Ireland. His coaching reputation is established. Stephen Bradley should be in a similar situation at Rovers today. If he wants it. If a job across the water was Duff's real desire, he would be in the dugout adjacent to Linfield's David Healy in a fortnight. He would know the importance of being seen. But there is a difference in ego between local swagger – Duff in Dublin referring to 'Duffer' – and a calculated careerism that views Dublin football as barely a stepping stone to bigger and better across the water. On Monday, about 24 hours after Shelbourne's shock confirmation of Duff's abrupt decision, there was a rush of rumour linking him with a move to Brentford. As a motivation for departing Shels, it sounded a bit far-fetched and someone at Brentford said it was definitely not happening. It was a verdict as emphatic as it was swift, because contrary to Ireland, neither the Premier League nor English football was consumed by the Duff news. Scanning the print editions of nine English newspapers on Monday morning, ranging from The Guardian to the Daily Star, there was only one mention of Duff leaving Shelbourne. It was in The Sun, 52 words long, beneath a story about a Wolves player possibly joining Birmingham City. So while we may all know and understand what Duff has done at Shels, and in turn for the league, there's a Test match at Headingley and Arsenal still have not signed a centre-forward. When the question of 'what happens next?' arises, Duff heading off on the boat needs consideration. He has always said he wants to remain at home. [ Stephen Bradley sad to see Damien Duff depart Shelbourne despite rivalry Opens in new window ] What's next should be Duff's Shelbourne v Healy's Linfield in a fixture likely to be more competitive than Shamrock Rovers v Larne last season. But that won't be happening, which is sad. Those close to the situation say it is irretrievable. From 24/7 to 0/7. Perhaps, indeed, too much has been said by Duff to his squad, even if much praise was given out along the way too. There is a decent argument that says it should not be irreversible. It is not a sin to think again. It is not weakness. It is the passing of time, the dawning of a reality that might not have been the intended outcome. Did the relentless personal energy Duff spoke of morph from inspiring to intimidating? It would require reflection and generosity from all quarters, but that should not be impossible. An about-turn may be the ultimate contradiction, but it's also human. In this world of fixed opinion it might not seem so, but you are allowed to change your mind.
Irish Times
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Could Damien Duff, man of many contradictions, catch us by surprise again and return to Shelbourne?
Damien Duff has always been a man of contradiction . First there was the big-noise teenager who turned out to be quite quiet, actually; a wide-eyed winger focused on sleep. Then there was the foreseeable yet unstoppable elusiveness. Opposition defenders knew Duff would drop a shoulder and jink, yet even armed with this knowledge, were invariably unable to prevent him going past them. Then there was Damien Duff the manager who, despite his name and fame, took over at just-promoted Shelbourne at closure-threatened Tolka Park. In the League of Ireland. It looked a mismatch. But he met the challenge with a sincerity of conviction that swept Shelbourne and the league itself along. Of course, there were other factors, including the post-Covid rise in interest and attendances, as well as improved results by some clubs in Europe. But Duff helped the League onto the back pages and then, when Shels clinched the title at the Brandywell last November, onto the front pages. In terms of sporting culture, this was a step-change. READ MORE It wasn't just about Damien Duff, some said. It was all about Damien Duff. We are still scrambling to comprehend last Sunday's walkout , but those who believe the latter, that Duff is me-me-me, have to reckon with the fact that if Duff had this selfish managerial career-path strategy, the 100-cap Irish international and former Chelsea Premier League winner would hardly have chosen Shelbourne as his starting point. Tolka Park has its charms, but have you seen Celtic's Lennoxtown training ground? Did you notice that vacancy at QPR on the green borders of Fulham and Chelsea? Duff, moreover, would not have stayed 3½ years at Shelbourne had his commitment not been total – 'always on', '24/7' as he and everyone at Shels said. Damien Duff resigned as Shelbourne manager last Sunday, following a home defeat to Derry City two days earlier. Photograph: Dan Clohessy From stability to a cup final to Europe and then to Shelbourne winning the title for the first time in 18 years, Duff worked. He worked hard. And now, here we are at the point where all that work has produced a Champions League qualifier. Five days after the draw brought an all-island, All-Ireland tie against Linfield, Duff exited. His departure was in keeping with his arrival in late 2021 – unforeseen – but the timing is, again, contradictory. Scanning the print editions of nine English newspapers on Monday morning, there was only one mention of Duff leaving Shelbourne It is possible to decry the Champions League as an entity, its continental economics growing ever-more domestically distorting, but for clubs of Shelbourne's scale it can be transformational. It offers a route into the Europa League and Conference League as well as the prestige, and money, of this Champions League round. For an ambitious Irish manager, it also offers profile; for an ambitious Irish manager with an alert agent, it is success in Europe that changes perspective in the British market. Doing good things at Sligo Rovers or Shamrock Rovers may be evidence of ability, but it is an unexpected victory in Europe that provokes boardroom intrigue elsewhere. Stephen Kenny's arrival at Dunfermline in 2006 came three months after his Derry City team had won 5-1 at Gretna in the Uefa Cup. That came after Derry had knocked out IFK Gothenburg in the previous round. When Derry then drew 0-0 with Paris St Germain in the next round, Dunfermline, in Scotland's top-flight, were sure they had their man. Damien Duff on the sideline next to St Patrick's Athletic manager Stephen Kenny during a recent Dublin derby at Richmond Park. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho Kenny had demonstrated capabilities to an audience beyond the Brandywell or Dalymount Park. When he repeated European progression at Dundalk, ultimately it led to Kenny becoming manager of Ireland. When Michael O'Neill guided Shamrock Rovers into the group stage of the 2011-12 Europa League via the elimination of Partizan Belgrade, he turned heads beyond Tallaght and was soon manager of Northern Ireland. From there O'Neill went to Stoke City in the Championship and back to Northern Ireland. His coaching reputation is established. Stephen Bradley should be in a similar situation at Rovers today. If he wants it. If a job across the water was Duff's real desire, he would be in the dugout adjacent to Linfield's David Healy in a fortnight. He would know the importance of being seen. But there is a difference in ego between local swagger – Duff in Dublin referring to 'Duffer' – and a calculated careerism that views Dublin football as barely a stepping stone to bigger and better across the water. On Monday, about 24 hours after Shelbourne's shock confirmation of Duff's abrupt decision, there was a rush of rumour linking him with a move to Brentford. As a motivation for departing Shels, it sounded a bit far-fetched and someone at Brentford said it was definitely not happening. It was a verdict as emphatic as it was swift, because contrary to Ireland, neither the Premier League nor English football was consumed by the Duff news. Scanning the print editions of nine English newspapers on Monday morning, ranging from The Guardian to the Daily Star, there was only one mention of Duff leaving Shelbourne. It was in The Sun, 52 words long, beneath a story about a Wolves player possibly joining Birmingham City. So while we may all know and understand what Duff has done at Shels, and in turn for the league, there's a Test match at Headingley and Arsenal still have not signed a centre-forward. When the question of 'what happens next?' arises, Duff heading off on the boat needs consideration. He has always said he wants to remain at home. [ Stephen Bradley sad to see Damien Duff depart Shelbourne despite rivalry Opens in new window ] What's next should be Duff's Shelbourne v Healy's Linfield in a fixture likely to be more competitive than Shamrock Rovers v Larne last season. But that won't be happening, which is sad. Those close to the situation say it is irretrievable. From 24/7 to 0/7. Perhaps, indeed, too much has been said by Duff to his squad, even if much praise was given out along the way too. There is a decent argument that says it should not be irreversible. It is not a sin to think again. It is not weakness. It is the passing of time, the dawning of a reality that might not have been the intended outcome. Did the relentless personal energy Duff spoke of morph from inspiring to intimidating? It would require reflection and generosity from all quarters, but that should not be impossible. An about-turn may be the ultimate contradiction, but it's also human. In this world of fixed opinion it might not seem so, but you are allowed to change your mind.
