Damien Duff delighted with point after 'almighty virus' hits Shelbourne 'heroes'

SSE Airtricity Premier Division: Shelbourne 0 Derry City 0

A first blip in seven games for Shelbourne couldn’t be deemed a setback as Damien Duff’s side extended their lead at the summit to eight points.

In fact, the Ireland legend declared the point as the best of his 26-month reign at Tolka Park, given a bug had ripped through his squad, delaying his final selection right up to the pre-match deadline.

Six straight victories since their opening night draw in Waterford soared the Reds to the top and, despite this bore draw against a Derry City struggling for consistency, a return of 20 points from eight games will please Duff.

“You’re probably looking at me going, ‘Are you crazy?’ but I’m not,” the Shels boss said of the value he attaches to the stalemate, especially on a pitch he’s tempted to improve by ferrying his Dad Gerry’s ride-on lawnmower across Dublin.

“The whole squad is sick. There’s some almighty virus going around so they’ve been on the toilet and we had to separate lads into different dressing-rooms before the match. Those players are absolutely heroes because they were dead on their feet by the finish.” 

On their blistering start to the season, building on last year’s fourth-placed finish that clinched European qualification for the first time since 2006, the two-time Premier League winner said: “I don’t really look at the table a lot. I don’t know who is behind us because it’s not the business end of the season. The first series of fixtures finishes after Friday’s game in Drogheda and it’s paramount we end it well. 

“Somebody asked me if I was surprised by our start - of course I am. Few teams win six in a row as it’s an incredible stat.

“At the same time, we’ve a big points total (target). I might