SHELBOURNE BOSS Damien Duff believes his team will not be popular Premier Division winners within the league if they ultimately get over the line.
The Tolka Park outfit could be crowned champions as early as Sunday if Shamrock Rovers fail to beat Dundalk.
But a Hoops win would take the title race to the last day. In that scenario, Shels either would have to beat Derry or hope their rivals slip up against Waterford.
Following last nightโs win over Drogheda, asked whether people would prefer Rovers or Shels to be 2024 champions, Duff said: โWho do you hate more? I donโt know, itโs irrelevant.
โDo people not like us still within the league? Absolutely. And weโll always continue to build on that.
โYou walk down the road, walk down wherever, Grafton Street tomorrow, a lot of people want us to do well. Itโs us against the world within the league but outside, thereโs a lot of energy behind it, call it what you want.
โWalking down the street I said to my wife today: โAnyone and everyone is stopping me.โ So Iโve built this football club along with many, many people.
โItโs us against the world, I still think itโs very much there, especially in the League of Ireland.
โIโm out running 5k up around the mountains of Delgany and I met a woman on crutches and she stopped me for a chat, sheโs from Yorkshire and desperate for us to win the league.โ
Duff says he will watch Sundayโs game between Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers. Shels will hope the Lilywhites can do them a favour and pull off a major upset.
โI couldnโt go for a run. Even if I went for a run, Iโd be checking the apps on the phone. No, Iโll watch it just like I watched Derry-Sligo, Derry-Dundalk. Itโs fascinating.
โDundalk are written off, I think itโs disrespectful.โ
And does he find it easy to watch matches from home?
โItโs always nice to watch a game with a glass of red or something like that but I wonโt because weโre in training Monday. Sunday is a sideshow, whatever you want to call it. I have to prepare for Derry.โ
Duff admitted he was surprised that the Candystripes were out of the title race, paying tribute to their โbrilliantโ players and manager.
The ex-Ireland international also praised his squad as they showed good composure to see out a 2-1 win on Friday despite the home crowdโs palpable anxiety.
โI think the nerves have been here for a long while in the Riverside. Thatโs what Iโm always telling the guys โ to bring that calmness.
โItโs as if theyโre growing before my eyes. Were they nervous 10 weeks ago? Probably, maybe. I hinted there were nerves. Is there now? No.
โI think our players were the calmest guys in the stadium tonight.โ
One individual in particular who has risen to the occasion is Sean Boyd. The 26-year-old striker has registered three goals in the last two matches to inspire the Drumcondra outfitโs title push and has 10 from 26 overall.
โI could even see in the warm-up that he was on it,โ Duff added. โMy thing always with Sean is prodding and prodding and prodding him. Itโs how to prod him. Does he get sick of it? Yeah.
โAs Joey [O'Brien] always says, you keep kicking the dog, they stop running for the stick. We say that a lot about Boydy, so itโs a fine balance with him, but tonight he was on it.
โHe needs to play with an edge. Itโs like Wayne Rooney. Thatโs what I compare it to. If Sean doesnโt play with an edge heโs nothing.
โIf I donโt have an edge Iโm nothing, I might as well not come in every day. He had that edge again tonight.
โIโm still trying to prod him anyway. The stats, two goals last week, a goal and an assist tonight, itโs absolutely elite.
โYou could argue, it sounds bizarre, that he is still probably getting up to speed and we are going into the last game of the season.โ
Whatever the outcome, its been great entertainment but Iโd love shels to win. 5 in a row is no craic for anyone other than rovers fans