Damien Duff wants to ‘move on’ from public criticism of Shane Farrell, insisting Shels squad ‘are my family’

Farrell came on as a second-half sub for Shels in Monday’s 0-0 draw at home to Shamrock Rovers but was sent off for two bookable offences and Duff made no defence of the Finglas native in the aftermath with some stern criticism of Farrell, who serves an automatic suspension.

“He knows he has let everyone down. I used to laugh about his diet, in year one, the chicken fillet rolls, whatever. That time has passed now. How you live your life off the pitch, how you train usually gets shown up on a match night and it did tonight,” Duff said after the game.

“I get he’s a fan’s favourite but he hasn’t deserved to play. They are two awful tackles. You don’t live right, you don’t train right, you’re a yard off and you’re late in a tackle. It’s not rocket science to me.”

But now, speaking ahead of another home derby on Friday, against St Patrick’s Athletic, Duff said that Farrell has issued an apology.

“Shane is one of our own. This is his club. He needs us and we need him. I spoke to Shane, he apologised for getting sent off. That’s it done, we move on,” Duff said.

“Everything will be given to him on and off the pitch as always. I will continue to wait for Shane to get fit and show his wonderful ability. I will also continue to dedicate my life to Shane and the rest of the players. They are my family.”

Duff also hailed the support and increased attendances at their Tolka Park home, with a bigger capacity after the Ribverside terrace was expanded.

“The big positive about this club since I’ve been here is everyone pulling in the same direction. That unity is important and it can’t change, whether it’s on the terraces, on the pitch, in the office,” Duff said.

“It was eye-catching to see people spilling out onto the new terrace on the Riverside; I thought it was amazing.

“For much of the last 20 years seats have been taken out of Tolka, it’s been made smaller. Now we’re doing the opposite, if you’d have told people two, three years ago, we’d be putting in standing room for an extra 1,000 people in the Riverside to cope with demand, would they believe you? I don’t think so.

“That was an incredible sight on Monday. The dream has to be to fill that whole stand, both Riverside 1 and 2, and then in the centre. Because when that’s done, there won’t be anything like it in Irish football.

“Tomorrow night I know they’ll be behind us, but it works both ways; we need to give the fans something to lift them off their seats.

“A moment of skill, a big tackle, after Farreller got sent off, in the last 15 minutes, or so when Sean comes on and throws his body around, that’s what gets the fans enthused.

“Whatever it takes, as good as they’ve been, it’s a two-way street. We need to get them going, and we’ll feed off their energy.”