Shels manager Damien Duff applauds the impact of the Hull combination, saying, “It’s great that they’ve come.”
Shelbourne manager Damien Duff has hailed ‘gamechangers’ Will Jarvis and Harry Wood and feels the pair, both on loan from Hull City, have brought the Reds to another level.
Jarvis (20) and Wood (21) both arrived at Tolka Park last July and have made a big impact for Shels, who jumped to fourth place after last night’s 2-1 win over Cork City, which also extended their unbeaten league run to nine games.
Jarvis bagged his first goal for the club in the home win courtesy of an excellent through ball by Wood, as Shels made it four wins from four against the Leesiders this term. Wood has also contributed two goals and four assists in his last six starts, with Duff labelling them both as elite players.
“It’s great that they’ve come over and put their trust in me to keep developing them as players,” said Duff, with his side now four points off third place.
“I hope for the club that they’re here next season because they’re game changers. They are elite players in this league, top, top players. That’s the benefit of our partnership with Hull.
“He (Jarvis) puts teams on the back foot. Speed kills. His dribbling ability, a right-footed dribbler on the left, it’s so hard to defend against with the space and different angles. He was the best player on the pitch by a mile against
Shels are in superb form as the business end of the season approaches, with just one defeat in 14 league games. With the Reds having overtaken Bohemians in the table, who they face on Monday, a first European appearance since 2006 remains a possibility.
“Does it help them believe more? I’d hope so,” added Duff after the victory over Cork.
“It was a poor performance. Maybe it’s a sign of a good team that we’ve gone and won the game. This time last year we probably don’t win it.
“The two goals are elite. Jack (Moylan’s) calmness and finish. And H and Will, that’s Champions League level football. The weight of pace, speed, time of the run.
“It was an elite goal. Maybe we don’t score it this time last year. Having the two guys in from Hull has brought the team to another level.”
While Shels target European qualification with six games remaining, Cork City are firmly staring down the barrel of the relegation play-off, as last night’s defeat coupled with Sligo Rovers’ huge win over Derry City leaves the Leesiders nine points off eighth place.
But Cork City sporting director Liam Buckley insists his side will fight until the very end as they look to avoid a straight drop back into the First Division.
“It is what it is, we’ll take it on the chin. We’re a bit off the pace with Sligo’s result but there’s nothing we can do about that,” said Buckley, with Cork City facing a trip to Dundalk on Monday.
“We have a half dozen games left. We’re going to give it our best to see what we can get out of the last six games. They are all tough games, a few away and a few at home, and we have also got the cup to look forward to. There is still a lot to play for from our point of view.
“I’ll be honest, I don’t think we played that badly. We kept it well in patches without really stinging them. We had one or two chances.”
On another day we score down that end and go 2-1 up, it could be a completely different game,” added Buckley, after Malik Dijksteel missed a big one-on-one chance moments before Shels retook the lead through Jarvis. “Unfortunately it is what it is, so we just have to get on with it.”
