Shane Duffy has become an indispensable member of the Republic of Ireland squad.
Since being handed his debut by Martin O’Neill in 2014, the centre-back has grown into the green jersey, so much so that he was named FAI Senior Player of the Year on Sunday night.
But it hasn’t always been smooth sailing. Back in May 2010, when Duffy was just coming through at Everton, a serious collision with a goalkeeper during a training match resulted in him losing over three litres of blood. He was forced to undergo emergency surgery after lacerating his liver, later admitting that he thought he was going to die.
After such a terrifying brush with the unknown, Duffy was determined to make it at for both club and country, but it didn’t exactly go to plan. Duffy struggled to establish himself in Everton’s first-team and, following loan spells at Burnley, Scunthorpe United and Yeovil Town, he joined Blackburn Rovers.
Around the time of his switch to Ewood Park, O’Neill became convinced of Duffy’s international credentials, rewarding him with his first cap during the summer tour to the USA in 2014.
Since then, while Duffy has made 17 appearances, becoming increasingly influential as a key member of Ireland’s back-line. His solid form with Brighton in the Premier League, where he faces some of the world’s finest attacking players on a weekly basis, has certainly helped and the 26-year-old now feels at home playing for Ireland.
It’s a striking contrast to Duffy’s formative years at Everton, during which he admitted he would be overcome with nerves and shake while he was out on the pitch.
“When I played at Everton the first time, I was purely raw, I’d just come out of Derry and I was shaking when I was playing,” Duffy told reporters ahead of Ireland’s friendly with Turkey on Friday evening.
“For the first five minutes, you’re shaking and you don’t even want the ball. When you get your first header, you feel better about it all. But the first five minutes you’re thinking about everything, where you are positioned, and looking around everywhere.
“Now I’m just calm. I feel like I belong there. It’s a nice feeling to go out knowing you can compete with those kind of players and feel comfortable.”
The Ireland squad has a new look to it this week, with several uncapped players hoping to make an impression, but Duffy – an elder statesman in comparison – feels comfortable enough to have a go at Roy Keane. Not a lot of people do.
During a shooting exercise on Tuesday, Keane played a poor pass to Duffy. The Brighton defender blasted the Corkman for his ‘shit pass’ before Keane had a go at Duffy’s first touch. Duffy blasted his effort high and wide.
“I nearly forgot who I was speaking to when I said it,” Duffy joked. “Ah, it’s just being comfortable. I shot it over the training fence anyway. He’s good with me, and good with everyone, and it’s great that you can have a bit of banter.”
Duffy also recounted Ireland’s harrowing play-off defeat to Denmark in November, admitting that it has come up in conversation during the training camp this week.
“It was a tough night. It still is. Even now, talking about it with the lads, we just shake our heads. Then you’re watching other teams getting their new kits for the World Cup and things like that, while we’re playing friendlies. Will I watch the finals? Of course, I’m a football man. You just wish you were there. We’ve just got to make sure we’re at the Euros now.”
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