This is not as good as it gets for Shane Duffy.
The Republic of Ireland centre half had to wait nearly two years for his second international cap, four years after his first call-up, and he grabbed his chance to shine with both hands – both hanging from two brute shoulders that left dents in Swiss bodies all over Dublin.
The Blackburn man has been impressing all year. He’s not just playing regular club football for once, he’s starring there and it isn’t his sharpness or his skills that are reaping the rewards of it, it’s his attitude. His demeanour.
There’s a bit of a swagger about Shane Duffy and he’s earned the right to walk into the Ireland camp with his considerable chest puffed out. He belongs there. Even if he doesn’t realise it yet.
“I’m probably miles off it,” the Derry man pondered the idea of boarding the plane to France with the 23-man squad. “I’ve just got to go out there and see what I can do. I don’t know what way the squad will be picked but all you can do is get your chance, Hopefully I can do something for him [the manager]. I just try to go out there and enjoy pulling the shirt on for Ireland. It’s a proud day.”
As a teenager, Duffy joined Ireland training six years ago but, during his first camp, he was sent for life-saving surgery after a freak collision damaged his liver. He’s fought his way back as resilient as ever and, despite all the knocks and setbacks, he’s as game as ever. He’s throwing himself into challenges with no regard for himself or others.
Duffy walked out on Landsdowne Road for the first time as a full Ireland international on Friday night and he took control. He lined out with three defenders and a ‘keeper that marshaled the country’s defence in one of the biggest nights in Dublin when Bosnia came to town. There he was, with arguably four of the five starting defence for Ireland, and he was absolutely hounding every one of them. Barking orders at them to follow his lead. No fear.
“I was more ready for it tonight than I was two years ago when I played,” he said. “I enjoyed it. Playing in front of the Irish fans for the first time was enjoyable. I had goosebumps out there. It was something I dreamed of when I started.
“As a centre half, I just try to get in the game and be sort of a leader out there when I can and help the people in front of me. I’m probably quiet off the pitch, I try to be vocal on it. I’m just happy we got the clean sheet and we won.”
And still, after a season that has turned heads, after an assist of the only goal and a man of the match display in his first international since his first – in a forgotten friendly with Costa Rica, no less – Shane Duffy doesn’t know if he’s in the top four centre halves in the country.
Right now, along with Richard Keogh, John O’Shea and Ciaran Clark, he is. No doubts about it. Only his modesty would question it.
“I’m playing regularly and maturing more as a centre half,” he said. “The more games you play, the better you get. I was quite raw two years – and I still am – but, listen, I’m playing every week and I’m thriving coming here trying to impress the manager and the players.
“Everyone wants to play but, listen, the lads who got us to the Euros are there, they’ve done all the hard work. I can’t just come in and take it. I’ve got to bide my time and hopefully I can get in the next campaign but I’ve got to focus on my club football.
“But, after that, you just want to go again. I didn’t want to come off, to be honest. I was just enjoying it.”
Will you make the Euros, Shane?
“You never know.”
