Shels progress in Europe after composed Windsor Park display
In both games Shelbourne were the better team and in truth should have had a bigger aggregate advantage, but they'll be happy to progress after producing a professional display at Windsor Park.
Ali Coote's first half goal to give Shels the lead was cancelled out by Chris Shields' penalty right on the stroke of half-time, but in striker Mipo Odubeko they had a frontman who produced the goods over both legs.
The 22-year-old fired home the all important winning goal at Tolka Park in the first leg and backed that performance up with another top notch display as a lone striker.
For Linfield, they certainly had the chances before Coote's opener, but when defender Ben Hall was rightfully dismissed their hopes came to an end.
Shels made one change from their side which secured a narrow 1-0 win at Tolka Park last week, with Tyreke Wilson coming in for James Norris, while the Blues brought back ex-Dundalk skipper Chris Shields for Dane McCullough.
Linfield missed a great chance to take a second minute late, as Krik Millar's right wing free-kick found Ethan McGee at the back post, he in turn lobbed the ball over Shels keeper Conor Kearns, but Evan Caffrey somehow managed to deflect Hall's close range header off the line.
The home side missed a sitter on 12 minutes when Kearns mis-kicked pass only found Matthew Fitzpatrick, but with the goal at his mercy, the front man's chipped effort from the edge of the box over the stranded Shels net-minder, was well off target.
Shelbourne suffered an injury set-back on 21 minutes when skipper Mark Coyle had to be replaced by Sean Gannon, the former Dundalk man was making his 54th European appearance.
The visitors broke the deadlock minutes later when Harry Wood's initial shot was cleared off the line by Shields but the loose ball fell to Coote on the edge of the box and his strike found Chris Johns' bottom left hand corner.
With their tails up Coote broke clear down the right before his centre found an unmarked Wilson at the back post, but the full-back failed to trouble Johns and blasted over.
Joey O'Brien made another change on the half-hour mark with goalkeeper Kearns being replaced by Lorcan Healy, after it looked like the former UCD shot-stopper had injured his hamstring.
Right on the stroke of half-time Linfield were correctly awarded a penalty when Wilson punched the ball away from Hall, referee Andrew Madley pointed to the spot and Shields made no mistake from 12 yards slotting the ball into the bottom left hand corner sending Healy the wrong way.
For the second game in a row VAR came to Linfield's rescue as Kerr McInroy's goal was ruled out deep into stoppage time in the first half, after referee Madley went to the monitor and felt that Paddy Barrett had held back Euan East in the build-up to Wood's well worked corner routine.
Another goalkeeping mistake nearly gifted Linfield a second goal in the first minute after the interval when Healy's pass found Callum Morrison, but the Scotsman's effort was blocked by the back-tracking Shels keeper.
Just after the hour mark Linfield were deservedly reduced to ten men when Matthew Orr's pass was charged down by Odubeko and the striker was brought down by Hall when racing in on goal, leaving referee Madley with no option but to bring out the red card.
Caffrey should have restored Shelbourne's lead on 70 minutes when a neat passing move ended with Wood playing a one-two with the wing-back, but his side footed strike from the right hand side of the box, which had Johns beaten, flashed just wide.
With the man advantage the Tolka Park side dominated possession and always looked a threat to adding a second goal.
David Healy, who was celebrating his 500th game in charge of the Belfast men, made an attacking double change on 76 minutes with Dane McCullough and Kieran Offord replacing McGee and Jamie Mulgrew.
Six minutes from time Healy was forced to make a comfortable save when diving to his right he easily gathered Offord's curling shot.
Odubeko, who had a superb game, should have wrapped the tie up on 90 minutes when substitute Sean Boyd released the front-man, but from an acute angle his shot was kept out by Johns' left boot.
Linfield: Christopher Johns, Matthew Orr. Ben Hall, Euan East, Ethan McGree (Dane McCullough 77); Chris Shields, Jamie Mulgrew, (Kieran Offord 76) Joshua Archer; Kirk Millar (Charlie Allen 83), Matthew Fitzpatrick, Callum Morrison (Chris McKee 68).
Shelbourne: Conor Kearns (Lorcan Healy 31), Evan Caffrey, Paddy Barrett, Kameron Ledwidge, Tyreke Wilson (James Norris 83); Kerr McInroy, JJ Lunney, Mark Coyle (Sean Gannon 21); Alistair Coote (Sean Boyd 83), Ademipo Odubeko, Harry Wood.
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