What a game from the big man.
Shane Duffy has been getting plenty of rearguard action practice with Brighton this season. The Seagulls have relied heavily on Duffy and Lewis Dunk to get them out of a lot of bother this season.
On Monday night in Cardiff, Ireland needed Duffy time, time and time again. Only once over 95 minutes did he falter and even then, he had the barely flappable Darren Randolph backing him up.
The Derry native was only making his 13th senior appearance for Ireland, last night, but it felt as if he had been in the centre of our defence for years. The natural, national progression from McCarthy to McGrath and then from Dunne.
For Duffy, this was Stuttgart, Giants Stadium and Moscow rolled into one ball and headed forcefully away.
In the final half an hour, the ball appeared to be magnetically attracted to Duffy’s forehead. Not only did he get a head on crosses, diagonals and punts, he loafed them back with interest. Each attempt to breach Ireland’s defence was a personal affront to the man.
He is a genuine leader for Ireland at the back. He marshalled and cajoled his defence and them midfielders than provided a tighter and tighter screen as the game wore on.
In the final 10 minutes even, when he attempted to climb Sam Vokes to head clear, he backed away as the free-kick was being readied. It was his foul but he still bellowed at his teammates, as if to say, ‘Get yourselves set. We’re clearing this.’
When the final whistle went, Ireland’s defence had not been breached for the fifth time in 10 qualifiers. Duffy’s stats for the match were, quite simply, astounding and deserve to be recognised.
Shane Duffy stats
Headers won: 8
Headers lost: 0
Tackles won: 3
Tackles lost: 0
Interceptions: 3
Clearances: 19
MOTM awards: 1@WhoScored pic.twitter.com/BV3jVJAbaF— Pat McCarry (@patmccarry) October 9, 2017
Added to those stats, there was a block on a goalbound effort that took the sting out and left Randolph to easily mop it up.
Duffy was imperious throughout and dominated the skies for most of a memorable night.
His only blip [one lost header from nine contested] could have cost Ireland but Randolph repaid the countless favours with a stunning save.
Credit: Sky SportsPost-match, Duffy spoke of the job being not even half done and he was right.
October 17 will reveal Ireland’s playoff opponents and, whoever they are, this side coasts against no-one. Every match is hard fought and every victory is hard earned.
In Duffy, Ireland have the perfect defender for what should be two fierce playoff legs.
