SHANE Duffy was left to reflect on the greatest night of his football career after playing a starring role in helping Republic of Ireland reach the knockout stages of a European Championship for the first time in the country’s history.

The Blackburn Rovers centre-back was parachuted into Martin O’Neill’s starting line-up for the make-or-break Group E clash with table-topping Italy after being an unused substitute in the 3-0 defeat to Belgium and 1-1 draw with Sweden.

And Duffy responded by producing a performance that belied his inexperience at international level as Ireland recorded a famous 1-0 win thanks to a late Robbie Brady header which ensured they will face France, the hosts of Euro 2016, in the round of 16 at Lyon on Sunday.

The 24-year-old, who only found out he would be starting shortly before kick-off, said: “It’s hard to put it into words at the minute.

“I’m just trying to take it all in. I’m just ecstatic that we won.

“The manager named the team when he got here so I just kept myself ready and hoping.

“He doesn’t say too much to you. He just said, ‘get ready, go and do it and enjoy it’. He relies on me so there’s a big confidence just to throw me in the biggest game of my career, anyway, and a lot of us.

“What a night. It will be hard to top.”

Duffy was winning only his fourth international cap after breaking into Ireland boss O’Neill’s squad in March.

And it came six years after the then Everton defender nearly lost his life following a freak training ground accident while away with the national squad.

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Ireland captain Seamus Coleman, who played alongside Duffy at Everton, said: “I thought Shane Duffy was incredible, for his first competitive game.

“Let us not forget Shane Duffy was nearly dead six years ago. To be back on the pitch is massive but to put in a performance like that is incredible.

“He is such a good lad and we have been together since Everton and I am so proud of him.”

Rovers’ other representative in France, midfielder Corry Evans, will also be in last-16 action this weekend with Northern Ireland, who face Wales in Paris tomorrow.