Matty Smith was shown clips of Roy Keane’s Champions League heartbreak to prepare him for his own FAI Cup final disappointment.
In 1999, Manchester United captain Keane was famously booked against Juventus in the semis and missed the legendary comeback win over Bayern Munich in the final.
For Smith, Sunday’s FAI Cup semi-final success away to Waterford was bittersweet as the Shelbourne star is on loan from Derry City.
And he cannot face his parent club in the November 13 showcase game at Aviva Stadium and will have to watch from the shadows.
It will be a tough one to take because Smith knows just how special a day it is having been on the St Pat’s team that beat Bohemians in last year’s decider.
Smith’s absence will be keenly felt by Shels boss Damien Duff considering how influential the 25-year-old has been since making the loan move over the summer.
That switch came out of the blue as the Scot had only joined Derry during the close season, but the former St Pat’s ace has repaid Duff’s show of faith.
At the RSC, it was Smith who coolly provided the assist for Gavin Molloy’s winning goal that secured Shelbourne’s ticket to the final.
But now that the dust has settled, the realisation has hit home with Smith that he won’t get to play a part next month.
“Look, we had been saying it all week,” said the attacking wide midfielder.
“The gaffer was quoting 1999 and the Roy Keane game against Juventus when he got booked and he wasn't able to play in the final.
“He got the video up for me on Saturday night as well, but I'm just absolutely delighted for the team.
“The gaffer told me that ‘while I’ve got you, I need to use you as much as I can’. I thought I did that on Sunday.
“I’m just happy to help the team out as much as I can. It’s just a pity that it’s a Derry v Shelbourne final and I can’t get on.
“It’s going to feel very strange. I can only stay neutral anyway. I cannot comment on it! I’m close with both sets of the boys.
“I still keep in touch with the boys I lived with in Derry - Brian Maher, Cameron McJannet and Brandon Kavanagh.
“They’re close friends of mine and it was good seeing Brandon get on the scoresheet (in the other semi-final, against Treaty United). I think it’ll be a very good final.”
Smith has another year to run on his Derry City contract but Duff is eager to make the Shelbourne move a permanent one.
Whether that happens is another matter and Smith said: “We need to see what happens when the season ends and we’ll decide from there.
“The move here came out of the blue for me. I (couldn’t be guaranteed) game-time at Derry and Duffer was interested and I jumped on that straight away.
“Since I’ve come here I’ve not looked back, I’ve really enjoyed my football. He’s a great manager to be under and it just clicked.
“I think we played near enough the same position attacking-wise and I’ve watched videos of him and I try to take stuff into my game and training .
“The way he wants you to play is very good.”
Derry happen to host Shelbourne in a league game this Friday, and Smith will also have to sit that one out.
But regarding the FAI Cup final, the man with a foot in both camps reckons it is too tight to call.
Smith said: “I think it’ll be very tight as both are very good teams. It’ll be a very good final.
“We’ve played each other a few times this season and know how each other plays. It will be very interesting.”
