Joey O'Brien aware Tolka test will follow Adriatic adventue

RTÉ News​

2 days ago

There are a lot worse ways to spend the early days of August than on the northern Adriatic coast.
For Joey O'Brien and his Shelbourne players, their sojourn to Rijeka is one that will live long in the memory after their 2-1 win in the first leg of their Europa League third-round qualifier at Stadion Rujevica.
Shelbourne were massive outsiders before the start of play and Niko Jankovic's opener from the penalty spot in the 56th minute only saw their odds lengthen.
However, the visitors responded 90 seconds later, when Sam Bone soared high into the night sky and directed a header to the roof of the net after a Kerr McInroy corner which initially found James Norris.
Twenty minutes from time, John Martin arrived at the back post to nod home Harry Wood's cross to send the travelling Shels fans into rapturous celebration, even if they were left biting their fingernails down to the quick before the final whistle.
While his players may have been on cloud nine after the result, O'Brien left the distinct impression in his brief post-match press conference that they would already be grounded well before they landed back in Dublin.
Describing the opening skirmishes in Croatia, the Shels boss said: "It was really tough, like we thought. We had shape, but probably gave up a bit of possession.
"I didn't really like us in the first half in our own possession. I thought we turned over the ball a bit too much.
"That was a negative, but I think our shape out of possession was really good.
"Before the second half, we spoke about that in the dressing room, that we wanted to try to get on the ball a little bit more and show our quality.
"At times we did that, but I still feel we didn't show how good a team we really are in possession."
The truism that these European ties are games of two halves wasn't lost on O'Brien, who added of the night's work and the task in hand: "It's a really difficult stadium here and it's really difficult to come over to this level of opposition. We don't play this opposition in our league, a team like that, as good as that, so it was always going to be a really difficult game.
"As I said to the boys down there, European football, for me, even a long time ago when I was playing, I always saw European football as four halves of football and there are two halves to go.
"We have a small advantage, but it's two halves done and two halves to go.
"Our record and every team in our country's record away from home in European football over the years is not very good.
"It's very difficult, hence why it's difficult going away from home in Europe. But I think we have a good squad of players since I took the job. One of the reasons why I wanted the job was the quality that we have in the dressing room, and at times tonight, we showed that.
"I still don't think we are favourites to go through. Obviously, it's a big result for us, but as I said, it's only two halves done.
"We have a small advantage, but I still think they're the favourites.
"It's a home leg for us and we have a good record at home, but it's still all to play for."
The merit of the interview in sports is questionable, with both the interviewer and interviewee often indulging in cliche and retreating to the comfort of formulaic questions and answers that can be used again and again.
O'Brien was illuminating in several of his observations, but at least one member of the Croatian media will be swotting up on all things Shelbourne after asking the following humdinger: "Do you consider this to be your biggest win in your coaching career?"
Unsurprisingly, he got short shrift from the new manager: "In my coaching career? I think it's only my eighth game as a coach. I haven't been doing it too long."