Damien Duff secured Shelbourne’s ticket to the FAI Cup final and declared: ‘This blows away anything I’ve done in my career’.
Gavin Molloy scored a 15th minute winner at the RSC in Waterford where driving wind and rain turned the semi-final into an ugly scrap.
But Shels were comfortable in seeing out the victory as the First Division Blues failed to land a glove on their top flight rivals.
And Ireland legend Duff - a two-time Premier League winner with Chelsea - insists Shels can now go all the way in the November 13 final against Derry City.
Duff said: “This blows away anything I’ve done in my career. We’re in it to win it.
“You know me 20 years and probably knew I'd never be a manager but I am one and we've got to the cup final and that's why I say it's the pinnacle.
“I’m tired and burned out and I'll enjoy the break when it eventually comes, but I’ve learned a lot.
“And regardless of what happens in the cup final, I always tell people that I've won already because I've done something outside of my comfort zone.
“I can look my kids in the eye and say 'you can do anything you want in life'. And that's not being deep. If I got the sack in six months time, I've won. That’s my mindset.”
Duff’s son Woody and daughter D’Arcy were in the away end with the Shelbourne fans and he made a beeline for his family on the full-time whistle.
“When I’m happy I always have a tear in my eye for some reason. I wanted to run over to my kids, see Woody and D’arcy,” he said.
“Many times this season I’ve put the players ahead of my wife, my son and my daughter, D’arcy. I wanted to run over to them.”
Duff turned up the heat on Cup final rivals Derry City - who Shels play in the league next Friday - by insisting they are red-hot favourites.
“They’re a top team, up there challenging Rovers. They’ll be hot favourites. We’re not supposed to be in the Cup final but we’ll change that mindset soon enough.”
Duff also claimed that ‘nobody likes us’ and asked why, he explained: “I just get vibes from people.
“I didn’t help early in the season ranting and raving and what have you. But it’s fine, we’ll re-ignite old duels and derbies. It’s all good.
“Maybe I’m doing something right if people dislike you.”
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