Naomh Conaill - champions for the eighth time in Donegal Picture Thomas Gallagher
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23 Oct 2025
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23 Oct 2025
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Mark Coyle in action against Waterford on Monday night
Shelbourne captain Mark Coyle spoke of his disappointment at manager Damien Duff’s abrupt departure from the club over the weekend as the club looks towards the Champions League qualifiers.
Duff walked away from the job on Sunday after their 1-0 defeat to Derry City on Friday night, leaving the reigning champions 14 points behind league leaders Shamrock Rovers.
The former Republic of Ireland International and English Premier League winner was a big appointment for the Tolka Park men in 2021 and guided the side to Premier Division glory last year.
Speaking to Off The Ball after Monday night’s 2-2 draw with Waterford, the Burt native and Shels captain Coyle said on the manager’s departure: “Crazy is one way to put it, it has been quite hectic with the uncertainty.
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“How it happened is not ideal, but we have to respect his decision, and we are very grateful for what he’s done for us. He’s brought us to places we didn’t know we could get to and we have to be thankful for that, but we have to move on.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed, but I will respect his decision. We’re big boys, and how we go into these next few games is more important and that’s what we have to focus on now and do the business.”
After the loss to Derry, Duff mentioned how he felt the players hadn’t prepared for the game as well as he had.
“Maybe he was looking for a proper reaction, and he wasn't happy, but neither were we,” Coyle added.
“We know it was a lacklustre performance and it wasn’t good enough, but it has been a tough season for us with how we’ve been hit with injuries, and a bit of luck would have changed those things, but it comes down to confidence, which we were lacking in recently.
“There’s no way he could have known how boys prepared, I think that was him prodding us to get a reaction out of us and that’s how the group looked at it.
“It’s a good group with proper professionals who work week in week out, and we wouldn’t have won the league last year if we weren’t like that.”
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