Damien Duff claims he was ‘verbally abused’ by 1,500 St Pat’s fans in the aftermath of Friday night’s Dublin derby at Richmond Park.
The former Ireland international was sent off after the final whistle following his Shelbourne side’s 1-0 defeat to the Saints for using foul and abusive language.
Prior to that he had gestured towards the St Pat’s fans. When asked about this gesture, Duff described it as a punch to the air.
He said: “I'll probably get accused of something I didn't do, whether it's looking to give me a red card post-match, a disciplinary thing, I don't know, but I've been accused of doing something over there. I can't wait to see the footage because that will back me up.
“Like I said, I'm getting verbally abused by 1,500 (fans). I've punched the air, I don't think it's that bad a thing to do. I did it at Dalymount Park a couple of weeks ago and I nearly got my eye taken out by a coin.”
When he spoke to reporters after the game, Duff was unsure if he had received a red card, post-match.
It is understood that no card was flashed at Duff in the tunnel area but the referee, Rob Hennessy, verbally informed the Shels boss that he was sent off.
Duff, when asked about this earlier, suggested it was ‘unclear’ to him whether he had been dismissed.
With regards to his team’s performance, the former Chelsea and Newcastle winger was enthused, saying: “That display was as good as you’ll see from a Shelbourne team here at Richmond Park in a long, long time.
“The result came down to that gamechanger player.
“Jake Mulraney had been very quiet all night to the point that you wouldn't have known he was on the pitch. Then he scored an amazing free kick to win the game for them. And that's why they moved heaven and earth to get him into the club.”
He too would like to get that type of player into Shelbourne, especially now the transfer window is about to open, a week on from the confirmed investment by Hull City’s owners into the club.
“I'm hoping this will happen. I'll know more in July when the window opens. When is it? Saturday week. I'd love a Matty Smith, I call them Matty Smiths, a Jake Mulraney, I'd love multiple ones in the building, I'll see what happens.”
They did have a Croat, Dino Tomas, on trial. He was at the match last night but returns to Croatia today.
“He did really well with us. I was mightily impressed. We've asked him to stay. It's irrelevant really because I think he's going back in the morning, it's just a left field ones. It's the statement ones that would be nice, it's what we're working towards.”
