The side beat Derry FC by 1-0 at the Brandywell Stadium in Co Derry last night in a moment which will be slow to lose it’s spark for fans.
Shelbourne manager Damien Duff, who has two Premier League winners medals and 100 caps for Ireland, took over three years ago.
Shelbourne manager Damien Duff with the SSE Airtricity Premier Division trophy. Photo: Ben McShane/Sportsfile
He has since led the side to their first FAI cup final in 11 years and has now brought them to their first Irish title since 2006, almost two decades ago.
“We believed and we never stopped believing, so I know it’s been a long time coming,” said manager Damien Duff, speaking to the crowd whose seats were stamped with stickers reading ‘Duffer’s Red Army.’
“I think you’ve forgotten over the last 18 years that this are the greatest, the biggest club in the country.
“I think you can overcomplicate life, you can overcomplicate your job, you can overcomplicate football,” he said, adding that there was mutual respect between the team and staff of Shels who “worked – excuse my French – f***ing hard”.
“When you tie all that together, you’re never going to be far from success.”
He added: “I’ve got a painting, inside the dressing room. It’s an iconic phrase: ‘Time to rise again.’ You have risen.”
The words “unreal”, “mad” and “unbelievable” came up again and again as fans tried to sum up the result amid singalongs to Rick Astley’s Never Gonna Give You Up and a now ironic take on Joy Division’s Love Will Tear Us Apart’: “Shels, Shels are falling apart again.”
“It still hasn’t sunk in yet,” one fan said as young and old looked on in awe as club heroes took centre stage next to the manager that made it all happen. Many were too young to remember the last time – but most are old enough to remember the “dark days” in between.
Others were having the love of the game explained to them by dads waiting in the stands before festivities got underway.
“Some people don’t even go because of the football,” one proud father told his three kids. “Some just go to spend time with their friends.”
Goalkeeper Conor Kearns said the win means “everything”, especially “to bring the club back where it belongs, to the pinnacle of Irish football”.
Speaking on the pitch, Shels’ head of equipment Johnny Watson said he has already “forgotten all about the dark days”.
“This is what it’s about now”.
The win breaks almost two decades without the League of Ireland title, with fans particularly enjoying the ring to the phrase repeated many times this afternoon: “Welcome to Tolka Park – home of the 2024 league of Ireland champions.”
