Shelbourne supporters celebrate their side’s first goal as they watch the club’s final game of the SSE Airtricity Premier Division season against Derry City. Photo: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
Damien Duff’s Shelbourne have been crowned League of Ireland Premier Division champions for 2024 after their 1-0 win away to Derry City this evening.
Harry Wood’s 85th minute strike inside the Derry box was the goal that ultimately won the title for the Reds.
To capture a first league title since 2006, the Reds knew they had to match or better the result of five-in-a-row chasing Shamrock Rovers tonight and despite Stephen Bradley’s men winning at home to Waterford, the league crown will now reside at Tolka Park.
It’s a remarkable achievement for the Drumcondra side in Duff’s third season in charge, following on from the Irish centurion leading Shels to a first FAI Cup final in 11 years in 2022 before they secured European football last season after an 18-year absence.
And having led the league table for the vast majority of the campaign, Shelbourne have now made it over the line and captured a 14th top-flight title in the club’s history.
Having gone on an impressive nine-game unbeaten run early on in the campaign before an eight-match unbeaten streak followed across April and May, Shels then suffered a dip in form and managed just one win in 10 going into the final three games of the season.
But crucial back-to-back home victories over Waterford and Drogheda last month put their fate back in their own hands coming into the finale against Derry – a game many expected to decide the title before the Candystripes dropped out of contention last week.
While over 300 away fans packed into the Brandywell, back in the capital over 1,000 Shels supporters watched their side win the league on big screens at Tolka Park this evening and the celebrations will no doubt last long into the night as Duff’s men have secured a first title in 18 years in dramatic fashion.
