Shane Duffy has the last laugh on Scotland
Soccer Football - UEFA Nations League - Group E - Republic of Ireland v Scotland - Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Republic of Ireland - June 11, 2022 Republic of Ireland's Michael Obafemi celebrates scoring their third goal with Troy Parrott Action Images via Reuters/Molly Darlington
He who laughs last beats Scotland 3-0.
Shane Duffy’s season in Scottish football wasn’t the most memorable but the Brighton defender never flinched let alone hide as he went through a nine months without playing in front of any supporters.
Duffy does have a Scottish Cup winners medal to show for his time at Celtic, completing the Quadruple Treble with a win over Hearts at Hampden.
Returning to Brighton there were plenty of people writing off the man from Derry, throughout the ups and downs of his career international football has been his stable.
Apart from reaching the last 16 of the European Championships in 2016, seeing off Scotland in the group stage, it hasn’t been a golden period for Irish football but Duffy has always made himself available.
The highlights have been thin on the ground as Stephen Kenny tries to turn things around, revive the squad with younger legs and provide encouragement to those in the League of Ireland and u-21 squad.
Today Duffy kept a clean sheet against a Scotland side that was in contention for the World Cup Finals just 10 days ago.
On Tuesday Ireland complete their season away to Ukraine in Poland, Duffy will be one of the first names on the team-sheet as Kenny looks to build on the win over Scotland.