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26th July 2024
11:55am BST
You can always rely on Damien Duff to raise your eyebrows after Shelbourne matches.
Winning has become a habit for Shels' this season - they sit at the summit of the League of Ireland Premier Division table - but last night's UEFA Conference League qualifier against FC Zurich was a whole other challenge.
Heavy favourites ahead of the game, it took Zurich just 28 seconds to find the opener after a nervy early start by the Dublin club.
A second was added later in the first half and the result was put beyond any doubt when the Swiss giants hit their third through Antonio Marchesano in the 58th minute.
It was a sobering reminder that Irish domestic football still has a long way to go before it can compare with countries like Switzerland, or even Czechia - Shamrock Rovers last 2-0 at home to Sparta Prague on Tuesday night.
The good news is that both sides will have the chance to turn their ties around next week.
The chances of that happening for either club are incredibly slim but Duff was still quick to take the positives away from a challenging night for his Shelbourne team.
"Are we dead?" he asked after the defeat. "Is the tie dead? Listen, you're only dead when you're six feet under.
"As mad as it sounds, I love nights like this because it teaches us all we’ve a long way to go.
"I might think I’m a half-decent manager or coach, I promise you I don’t, but if I was to...here, it’s sobering.
"I can be better, the staff can be better. The players might think ooh ‘I’m big, I’m strong, I’m quick, I’m technical’, we saw levels tonight.
"When we’re all back home, the players can’t disrespect a speed session, a gym session, a technical session.
“As a player, I used to love bad times, bad results because it awakens you and drives you on to be better.
"It was a gargantuan task. My dream is that not only Shelbourne, but the league and Irish teams, get to this level.
"We’ve a long way to go. How do we do it? I’m not getting into it tonight.”
St Patrick's Athletic fared better yesterday evening, producing their best performance of Stephen Kenny's short reign to overcome Lichenstein outfit FC Vaduz 3-1.
Jake Mulraney scored two goals in the opening seventeen minutes and centre-back Joe Redmond put the game to bed with a header in the 77th minute.
New signing Zach Elbouzedi made his first start for the Saints and he impressed on the right wing, with his electric pace adding a new dimension to the team's attack.
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