Rovers look to build on Cork win against Damien Duff’s Shels

SHAMROCK Rovers are back in the black ahead of their scintillating tie with Dublin rivals Shelbourne on Friday night in Tolka Park.

Ballyboden native Damien Duff will manage his Shelbourne team out against his old employers Shamrock Rovers, who are in the hunt for a fourth SSE Airtricity League Premier Division title in succession.

Having finished his playing career with the Tallaght team, Duff then served as first team coach for Stephen Bradley between 2016 and 2018, while also managing underage teams for the club.

Jobstown man Bradley has been at the helm of the Hoops since 2016, working with Duff for two-years, before leading them to arguably their most successful spell of the modern era.

Meanwhile, former Republic of Ireland international Duff has coached at Scottish premiership side Celtic and the national team before taking on Shels in 2021.

Over the previous years, Duff has tried to instill a belief and playing style in the Drumcondra side and helped them consolidate their place in the top-tier of Irish football.

Now, the two former colleagues will go toe-to-toe for the third time this season and it is gearing up to be an astute tactical battle.

Across their two previous meetings this season, the teams have shared the spoils with the last meeting at Tallaght Stadium in April serving up four goals.

On that occasion, Rovers’ needed to overturn a 2-0 deficit after Graham Burke put the ball into his own net and former St Patrick’s Athletic player Matty Smith doubled Shels’ lead.

Burke, who is the Hoops’ top scorer this season on eight goals, cut their lead in half and Crumlin native Roberto Lopes drew parity to settle for a point.

A month before that, when the teams collided at Tolka Park, it was another draw, although on this occasion it finished up nil-all.

Shamrock Rovers travel to take on Shelbourne at Tolka Park on Friday at 7.45pm.

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