Damien Duff not getting carried away despite 'big statement' from Shelbourne at Tallaght

Damien Duff admitted a first away win over Shamrock Rovers in almost two decades was a "big statement" while insisting that he and his Shelbourne team would keep their feet on the ground.

Shels' 2-0 win at Tallaght Stadium extended their lead at the top of the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division to six over Derry City and nine clear of the Hoops.

With the sides involved in Europe already past the halfway stage of the season, it underlines Shels' potential to make a concerted push for the title.

But Duff was keen not to get carried away although the significance of a win on the road over ten-man Rovers was not lost on the Shelbourne manager.

"I think the last time we beat Rovers away was 2005, so it's a big, big statement, and a big, big scalp," he told RTÉ soccer correspondent Tony O'Donoghue.

"But if I get carried away, it gives the green light for everybody to get carried away. So the fans, everybody outside the dressing room can get as carried away as they want, get really excited but myself, the players and the staff are very calm and we're not going to come away from what we're all about and that's just working hard."

Both goals came courtesy of Will Jarvis penalties, with the winger also proving difficult for Shamrock Rovers to deal with.

The Hull City loanee had been a doubt for the game but was able to start and Duff was full of praise for the 21-year-old.

"He's a tough Yorkshireman, didn't want to wear a mask, adopted by Shelbourne, adopted by Dublin, he loves it here, we love him, special, special player, he affects games and wins games," he said.

Along with the defeat, Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley had to count the cost of growing injury issues in his squad after having to make three first-half