Stephen Bradley says he will be supporting Shelbourne in the FAI Cup - because of his respect for Reds manager Damien Duff.
Shels are away to Waterford in next weekend’s semi-final, while Derry City host Treaty United in the other last-four clash.
And while there is an intense rivalry between the two clubs that formed in Ringsend, Bradley is giving his backing to Ireland legend Duff to deliver a trophy in his first season as boss.
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“Yeah, I will do. I definitely will be,” he replied. “We have a really good relationship. I have so much respect for him and I'll definitely be hoping he can go and win it.”
That respect was evident on Sunday night when the pair embraced in the rain on the Tallaght Stadium pitch.
Bradley’s Rovers had just claimed a last-gasp win over Duff’s Shelbourne side in circumstances that frustrated the Tolka Park chief.
Duff still sought out his counterpart and they could be seen having words together.
“It was a private conversation about my son rather than football,” revealed Bradley, whose son Josh was diagnosed with leukaemia during the summer.
“He’s been a brilliant support to me and it was all positive. I’ve nothing but respect for him. It was more of a private conversation.”
On the pitch, Duff’s side was just six minutes away from a famous win at Tallaght Stadium on Sunday, but ended up conceding twice.
The second goal came after the end of the allotted four minutes’ injury-time - although there were stoppages, including one for a Shels substitution, during that period.
Up to Dan Cleary’s second equaliser on 84 minutes, the visitors looked set to frustrate the league leaders with a display of outstanding organisation and discipline.
It was no surprise to Bradley that the Reds were so hard to break down, given the impact of former Chelsea and Ireland winger Duff in the dugout.
“I think they’ve been brilliant. I really do. Their average points over the course of the season has been fantastic,” he said.
“I think if you offered him (Duff) that at the start of the year, he’d have taken it.
“Actually, he probably wouldn’t, because he wants to win the league, he wants to win everything. That’s why he was so good as a player.
“But I think when they sit back and reflect, they’ll be happy. Semi-final of the Cup, they are obviously in a good position in the league.
“I think they will only get better and stronger as a team, especially with him there.”
As a young manager himself, Bradley knows the pitfalls for someone starting out in the League of Ireland - particularly when they are as famous as Duff.
“People forget, Damien is the face of the league because of how good he was as a player,” said the Rovers boss.
“Everyone is watching his every step, listening, he can't say anything out of line. Pressure comes with that.
“It's his first senior job in management. I think he's been brilliant and will only get better.”
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