Shels ease past Linfield to take historic Euro step

(Shelbourne win 5-1 on aggregate)

Shelbourne were in celebration mode at Windsor Park for the second time in six weeks after once again knocking Linfield out of a European competition – but this time they did it in style following a 2-0 victory that ensured continental group stage football for the first-time ever and the riches that go along with it.

Back in July, Joey O'Brien’s side left Belfast with a 1-1 draw, good enough to advance in the Champions League qualifying series. Twists and turns brought the sides back together with a place in the UEFA Conference League up for grabs.

While last week’s first leg at Tolka Park had been a rollercoaster as the League of Ireland side dramatically brought a 3-1 advantage north, this encounter brought with a stillness as Harry Wood and Ali Coote ensured that David Healy’s Linfield side would now have only domestic matters left on their schedule.

The atmosphere was raucous in the opening stages on a night when the big screen at Windsor Park paid tribute to Ollie Horgan pre-match (Shels also wore black armbands), but half an hour later the only noise was coming from the fans decked in red in the North Stand.

On a night when the tie’s level of excitement depended on the opening goal, it was Shels who struck first to suck the life out of the game with Wood the executioner.

Shelbourne's Harry Wood opened the scoring at Windsor Park

For 22 minutes, the Leeds-born ace glided around the Windsor pitch, ghosting into pockets of space left unfilled by a home defence unable to curb his initial threat.

In those opening skirmishes that had amounted to Wood nicely progressing the play, but he ensured Linfield fully paid the price when his perfectly-timed run into the box – Chris Shields briefly switching off - was perfectly picked out by Coote with the player cushioning a side-footed effort past Chris Johns.

If that goal left Linfield’s hopes of a second-leg comeback living on borrowed time, Coote, Shelbourne’s goal-scorer here in July, then delivered the last rites for any such aspirations.

Ademipo Odubeko, who had earlier saw a caressed lob touch the top of the crossbar, although he was just offside anyway, had far too much space in the Linfield box to take two touches, the second of those teeing up Coote who finished from the edge of the area in nearly an identical position to where he had scored back in July.

The way the entire Shelbourne coaching staff celebrated with a bouncing group hug suggested even they knew that it was job done.

Linfield had offered very little threat around of those goals with Wessel Speel diving bravely at the feet of Kieran Offord – and taking a bump for his troubles – after the striker’s sublime flick had taken him past Patrick Barrett and in on goal in the 14th minute.

Kirk Millar, in his testimonial season, also came close to converting from close range after brilliant work by Chris McKee down the left, but the boos from the home fans at the interval spoke volumes.

Linfield probed for a goal early in the second half, but it was the visitors who came closest to adding to their tally in the 57th minute as Linfield full-back Ethan McGee sliced a clearance out for a cheap corner.

Kerr McInroy, a positive influence throughout his hour on the pitch, swung in precisely for Barrett to get up and head into the turf with the ball bouncing up but clipping the outside of the post.

Milan Mbeng of Shelbourne is tackled by Euan East of Linfield

Linfield were presented with two excellent sights of goal after Shels’ sub Sean Coyle gave away a pair of frees in quick succession on the edge of the area, picking up a yellow card for the second indiscretion. The first was screwed wide of Speel’s post by Kyle McClean before Matt Yates drove into the wall – the cue for many of the home fans to make their way to the exits.

From there on, both sides entered conservation mode, well aware that any further changes to the scoreline would be inconsequential although Martin had a chance in additional time to add salt to the Linfield wounds after brilliant link-up play with Daniel Kelly – but he shot straight at Johns.

The same two were involved in a further chance right at the death as Martin’s free-kick deflected off the Linfield wall and into Kelly’s path, but the couldn’t find the target. It didn’t matter.

The Shelbourne fans got through their whole repertoire of chants – including one aimed at Linfield manager Healy that may earn the club a discriminatory fine – as they started to plan for at least another six European ties.

All eyes on the draw in Monaco on Friday, and the warm embrace of a guaranteed €3.8 million that is heading to Tolka Park.

Linfield: Chrisotpher Johns; Ben Hall, Sam Roscoe (Charlie Allen, 59), Ethan McGee, Euan East; Chris Shields, Kyle McClean (Callum Morrison, 72), Joshua Archer (Sean Brown, 59); Kirk Millar (Sam Taylor, 59), Kieran Offord, Chirs McKee (Matt Yates, 72).

Shelbourne: Wessel Speel; Milan Mbeng (Evan Caffrey, 62), Sean Gannon, Paddy Barrett, Sam Bone (Kameron Ledwidge, 81); James Norris, JJ Lunney, Kerr McInroy (Mark Coyle, 62); Ali Coote; Harry Wood (Daniel Kelly, 74), Ademipo Odeubeko (John Martin, 62).

Referee: Julian Weinberger (Austria).

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