Tolka Park will be welcoming Champions League football for the first time since 2005 as Shelbourn wins the League of Ireland title following a late victory in Derry.
Shelbourne fans had to wait 18 years to see their side lift the League of Ireland trophy. A wait that included 3 relegations, 2 cup final disappointments, and facing the brink of the death of their club and beloved stadium too.
Just 3 weeks ago, Shelbourne had one clear goal, winning their final three games. To control their destiny, without the need for results to go their way in other games featuring title rivals Derry, Shamrock Rovers, and St Pats.
In the penultimate round of fixtures, Stephen Kenny’s high-flying Pats side picked off Derry City, taking the FAI Cup finalists out of contention for a potential double. While Shamrock Rovers narrowly beat relegation-bound Dundalk.
These results combined with Shelbourne’s hard-fought win at home against Drogheda United meant that the Championship was now a 2-horse race.
Shelbourne had to win against Derry City away in the Brandywell, or hope that Waterford would upset Shamrock Rovers to prevent a record 5 titles in a row for the hoops.
The occasion did not phase Shelbourne manager Damien Duff, who since taking over the Drumcondra club just 2 seasons ago, has completely revitalised the sleeping giant Reds. “The lead up to tomorrow has been very normal and simple” – showing that the team has grown since the failure of the Cup Final, a 4-0 loss to Derry in the Aviva just 23 months ago.
With the showdown in Derry being shown on RTE 2, while the match in Tallaght on RTE News, Friday night promised to be the biggest in LOI history in years. Shamrock Rovers started on the right foot immediately out of the gate. Johnny Kenny picked up a loose deflection to open the scoring in Tallaght and put the Hoops on the top of the table for the very first time in 2024.
Meanwhile, on the banks of the Foyle, it was a very tight game. With no clear chances presenting themselves for either side in the first half, Shelbourne just had the edge over Derry City. It was clear now that the title would go down to a final tight 45 minutes of the season.
The Hoops opened up their second half fairly quickly with a power shot from Neil Farrugia deflecting off the crossbar, and into the path of in-form Dylan Watts. He then slotted it past Waterford goalkeeper Sam Sargeant, further showing Rovers’ determination to get their 5th title in a row.
While Shelbourne pressured for an opening, with a massive penalty shout called out by Damien Duff after Shels midfielder Ali Coote was brought down in the Derry box. There was still nothing separating the sides up in Derry.
However, in Tallaght, the brave Waterford side cut the hosts’ lead in two, with top striker Padraig Amond putting one past Pohls, Solidifying his grasp on a joint Golden Boot award, alongside Derry’s Pat Hoban.
With just 6 minutes to go in the 90, the League of Ireland’s Hollywood moment finally came. A handball by Davenport just on the edge of the box gave Shelbourne Top striker Sean Boyd a free kick from close range and a chance to break the deadlock.
His effort was palmed away by Brian Maher, but not too far as it fell into the path of Wood, who found the net and picked up his only goal of the season. Possibly the most important. Shelbourne just had to hold on for another 10 or so minutes, and the 18 years of hurt would be over.
Wood was given another golden opportunity to score but fluffed his chances, leaving the injury time period to be a tight one for the Reds. Meanwhile, rather bizarrely in Tallaght, Shamrock Rovers fans were celebrating a ‘ghost goal’ scored by Derry. Cheers went around the stadium before full-time. The realisation set in. The hoops had missed out on 5-in-a-row after the final whistle.
After 7 minutes of injury time, referee Paul McLaughlin blew the final whistle of the 2024 season and Shelbourne were finally crowned Champions. Celebrations were ensued and the cameras focused on Damien Duff, whose undivided attention on the North Dublin club has elevated the League of Ireland to heights that it hasn’t seen since the 1960s.
While the 300 or so Shelbourne fans jumped onto the pitch to celebrate with the players, 1500 fans celebrated in front of two big screens in Tolka Park. The Party celebrations went on on until 3 am.
After a quick start to the season of 6 wins in their first 7 games, Shelbourne held on with a strong defense, whereas the other teams of the league kept on slipping. Even when the Reds had a slow period of just 1 win in 10 games. They held on until the very end.
Shelbourne will compete in the first round of the UEFA Champions League next year with a guaranteed payday of over half a million next summer with a chance to take on Europe’s giants. For now, Shamrock Rovers continue their European Journey in the UEFA Conference League, with exciting away ties against Rapid Vienna and Chelsea to come before the New Year.