Linfield v Shelbourne: Dubliners take one-goal lead to Belfast in all-Ireland Champions League clash
League of Ireland champions Shelbourne have a lead to defend in the second leg of their Champions League first round tie against Irish League winners Linfield.
Kick-off in Belfast is 7.45pm and you can follow all the action as it happens in our liveblog below.
2 minutes ago
These are two sides with storied histories, with much of the focus in the build-up to the clash centering on previous meetings between the pair, including Linfield's 2-0 victory over Shelbourne in the 2005 Setanta Cup Final a little over 20 years ago.
Both sides have the chance to write a new chapter tonight with Healy and O'Brien on the respective home and away touchlines looking to make that happen for their teams.
13 minutes ago
The other is Shelbourne's veteran right-back Sean Gannon, who knows all about European group stage football having savoured it both with Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk where he was a team-mate of Shields'.
The 34-year-old insisted that Joey O'Brien's Shels aren't feeling any added pressure before tonight's game but that they are fuelled by motivation to get the job done given they have that slender one-goal lead from their first-leg victory in Dublin.
Shelbourne don't feel added pressure… we are simply motivated to finish job against Linfield, maintains veteran Sean Gannon
Shelbourne's 'senior citizen' Sean Gannon says the group need to use the rewards on offer for finishing the job against Linfield as a source of motivation rather than a reason to feel the pressure.
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
23 minutes ago
There are two experienced campaigners back from suspension on either side, with Chris Shields coming straight back into the Linfield starting line-up after he was banned for the first leg at Tolka Park.
The former Dundalk man has sampled group stage football with the Lilywhites and will hope to play an influential role for the Blues this evening having done a job in both midfield and defence for David Healy's side.
Chris Shields raring to go for Linfield's Windsor duel with Shelbourne: 'I hope they think they can pass us off the park'
Chris Shields says he expected Shelbourne to show their class at Tolka Park but he's backing Linfield to have the last laugh in Belfast.
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
49 minutes ago
Let's take a look at the line-ups.
Linfield: Johns; McGee, East, Hall, Orr; Archer, Mulgrew, Shields; Morrison, Fitzpatrick, Millar.
Subs: Walsh, Roscoe, Whiteside, McCullough, Brown, McKay, Allen, McKee, Offord, Annett.
Shelbourne: Kearns; Wilson, Ledwidge, Barrett, Caffrey; Coyle, Lunney, McInroy; Wood, Coote, Odubeko.
Subs: Topcu, Healy, Gannon, Bone, Norris, Temple, Chapman, O'Sullivan, Kelly, Boyd, Martin, Ring.
59 minutes ago
Hello and welcome to tonight's live blog for the Champions League First Qualifying Round second leg clash between Linfield and Shelbourne at Windsor Park.
Mipo Odubeko's solitary strike for Shels in the first leg at Tolka Park is all that separates the sides prior to kick-off in this evening's second all-island showdown in Belfast, with both the defending League of Ireland champions and Irish League winners harbouring hope of progressing to the Second Round.
Who will book their ticket into the next stage? Stick with us for all the action as it happens!
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