KAMERON LEDWIDGE likes to fish during his spare time.
And the Shelbourne defender is hoping to land another whopper against Shamrock Rovers in tonight’s Dublin derby at Tolka Park.
Ledwidge has thrived at Shels since joining from Southampton 3½ years ago, falling for Damien Duff hook, line and sinker.
And when the stresses of football get too much, the Finglas man gets away by heading to the sanctuary of the lakeside or river bank.
He said: “I go to Cavan and Monaghan to the lakes and rivers. I like fishing off the bank and chilling out.
“It’s the scenery that I like. Sometimes I’m up at four or five in the morning, hitting the road and watching the sun rise. It’s good for the head.
“A pike, 19 pounds, is the biggest one I’ve caught. I’m trying to break the 20-pound barrier.
“It was down in Cavan. They’re good fish and there’s a good scrap off them.”
There is no lack of fight in this Shels team either.
Ledwidge was signed by Ian Morris for the final stages of their 2021 promotion-winning campaign.
Ledwidge recalled: “I only came in for the last ten games, I think, but there were good fellas in the changing room.
“Luke Byrne was the captain and he took me under his wing.”
There was some surprise that, given he had achieved the objective of returning to the top flight, Morris was cast aside ahead of the 2022 season.
But there have been no regrets on Shels’ part with Duff leading the club to an FAI Cup final, European qualification and the title in his first three years in charge.
Ledwidge has made more appearances than anyone else under his gaffer — playing 110 times.
DUFF ON DEFENCE
Early on, Duff served notice of his intent of backing his players from attacks from outside — although he himself is a hard taskmaster inside the camp — when Ledwidge came under fire.
Working as a pundit for RTÉ, Karl Sheppard identified Ledwidge as a weak link in Shels’ attempts to play out from the back.
Duff went to war.
Ledwidge, 23, said: “I was still a kid and not as mature as I am now. The manager will always have the back of anyone at the club.
“He will keep backing everyone. That’s just the way he is and it’s the nature of the man.”
But the scrutiny was a reminder of the difference between playing academy football at Southampton and the men’s game.
There are no hiding places when matches are screened live on national TV.
Ledwidge said: “Mistakes will happen and will be pointed out. You have to get on with it.”
Rovers had set the bar in recent times with four league titles in a row before Shels ended their reign last November.
Now it is Shelbourne who are there to be shot at with Ledwidge hoping to lay down another marker against the Hoops tonight.
He said: “They have done well in Europe which is great for the league.
“They should be up there but we’ll do our best to beat them.”
