Damien Duff hits back at Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley with f-word Galway rant

Stephen Bradley was critical on Sunday of the standard of this year's League of Ireland title race

Damien Duff has hit back at Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley’s claim that the standard of this year’s title race has been poor - and he insists that Shelbourne are still firmly on course to win the Premier Division.

He saw his Reds side fall to a 2-0 defeat at Tallaght Stadium, thanks to Jack Byrne’s first league goal in 16 months and Neil Farrugia’s second-half strike.

They remain top of the table despite winning just one of their last 10 Premier Division games, but are now just two points ahead of the Hoops and four clear of Derry City and Galway United, with the Candystripes having two games in hand over the rest.

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Duff was clearly annoyed by Bradley’s comments in Sunday's papers. The Hoops boss said: “I think if we’re being honest, the standard hasn’t been great.”

The Tolka Park chief countered: “Okay, address his (Bradley’s) own players. I don’t think so. I think maybe back in the day it was easy to go to Galway. It’s fucking not.”

Duff added: “I’m sick to the gills of saying that over recent weeks and months; it’s still in our hands, but bizarrely it is, because we have three games to go.

“We just need to attack Waterford now, I’m not looking too far down the line because it’s hard to get any points at the minute, but if we win our three games, unless my maths are wrong, we will be champions of this country.”

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Directly addressing Bradley’s comments, he added: “I’ve been lucky enough in England and Scotland and you get a lead and you keep your foot on people’s throats and it’s game-over.

“Have we done that? No. Has anybody done that? No.

“I know a lot has been said about the quality of the league and it’s disappointing and people have been poor; I totally disagree.

“There are a lot of footballers and staff who have dedicated their lives 24/7 to this year’s league. It’s just tight. End of.

“Go down to Pat’s and ask Chris Forrester, and suggest that everyone has been off all year.

“I haven’t. Our staff, our players, granted we haven’t had a run of form as in points-wise, but look at the whole league.

“Pat’s are resurgent, big-game players. It’s not easy to go to Pat’s. There is no easy game. That’s the way I see it.

“But here, if Stephen says everyone’s been poor, I’d say there are 250 professional footballers in this country that would find that as a slight.”

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