Damien Duff says winning league with Shelbourne would mean more than his Premier League medals and Ireland caps

The league leaders have been pushed to the final day by a resurgent Shamrock Rovers and must win in Derry on Friday to be sure of the crown.

Otherwise, they would need the Hoops to drop points at home to Waterford in what is sure to be a tense last day.

Duff is immersed in the drama and has asserted that getting the pre-season 25/1 shots over the line would top his playing achievements which included Premier League medals with Chelsea and starring at a World Cup as part of the 100 caps he earned for his country.

“It’d be the pinnacle,” says Duff. “I’ve some nice memories along the way, winning trophies, playing some good stuff, one hundred caps for Ireland blah, blah, blah. But it’d be the absolute pinnacle, blow everything else out of the water.

“It’s been the greatest three years of my life (managing Shelbourne). I spent twenty as a footballer, but I’ve enjoyed these three more. It’s tiring but I’ve enjoyed it more. Great fun.”

He elaborated on his reasoning.

“Doing something that’s very bloody uncomfortable,” he continued. “Football was easy to me, what I’d been doing since I was a baby, go out and play.

“OK, a high level and all but nobody would ever have expected me to become a manager and create an environment, create a club, an identity, getting everyone together and pulling in the right direction, maybe I’ve surprised myself. It’s the hardest thing I’ve done in my whole life, I guess that’s why it’s so pleasing, so enjoyable.

“I didn’t know what to expect, really, that’s why I turned the job down a couple of times. I was nervous, I don’t like failing. Thankfully the club talked me back into it. Maybe it’s where I am in my life as well, but it’s been amazing fun.”

RTE have confirmed they will show both games live on Friday, a first for the league, with the Shels meeting with Derry on RTE2 and the Rovers-Waterford clash on RTE News Now. Duff can see the wider benefits for the league of a race for the crown that has captured the imagination.

“It’s brilliant for the League, absolutely amazing, I love it, I love it,” he said, “I know you all think I’m giving you ear candy – I love it. For the first time in a long time, there’s a title race.”

His former team-mate Stephen McPhail can see that argument, even though the Shamrock Rovers sporting director quite enjoyed the comfort of having won four league titles with games to spare.

There was tension in Dundalk on Sunday when it looked like the holders might drop points and relinquish their crown there and then. McPhail was happy with the character they showed after the interval.

“I said to the manager six weeks ago that this could be the best few months of our lives,” said McPhail, who assumed media duties in Dundalk because of Stephen Bradley’s touchline ban.

“I said it because I really felt we had the players coming back into real form, we were playing high level opposition in Europe and you could just feel momentum. If we don’t turn up Friday we’ll be disappointed because that’s the most important thing. If we get three points for us and things go against us…let’s see where it takes us.

“The beauty of this group is at this time of year, they know how to win games, they know how to handle pressure situations. We just have to focus on Waterford because we know how dangerous they can be and if things go our way in the Brandywell and Derry do the business, five-in-a-row would be brilliant. If it’s not, we take it on the chin and move on.”