Shelbourne survive dramatic All-Island derby to set up Champions League clash with Qarabağ

Irish Examiner

16-07-2025

UEFA Champions League
First qualifying round, second leg
Linfield 1 (Shields (pen) 45+3)
Shelbourne 1 (Coote '25)
Shelbourne win 2-1 on aggregate
Linfield arranged fake fireballs to build the pre-match atmosphere but this All-Island derby produced natural sparks that created a sizzler.
Shelbourne were worthy of their win over two legs – setting up a Champions League second round clash against Azerbaijani champions Qarabağ at Tolka Park next week – but there was drama galore delivered at Windsor Park.
Ali Coote adding to the first leg advantage looked ominous for the Belfast crew but they pulled one back, survived a disallowed concession and had a man sent off. Still, they only lost by a single-goal margin.
Shels won't care about the manner of their progress, just that it's achieved. Regardless of how they fare in Uefa's supreme competition, a playoff into the Conference League phase is pocketed for later in the year.
Both teams made one change apiece, former Dundalk midfielder Chris Shields returning from suspension for the hosts while Tyreke Wilson got the nod over Liverpool loanee James Norris.
David Healy had preached the virtue of patience in their game-plan but within 13 minutes Linfield had spurned two golden opportunities.
Evan Caffrey of Shelbourne after his side's victory in the UEFA Champions League First Qualifying Round second leg. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Straight from kick-off, a free-kick was won which was whipped in by Kirk Millar. Ethan McGee ghosted in around the back to loop the ball across goal, just a whisker too early for Ben Hall to connect a yard out.
While that was manufactured, the second opening was a present.
There was no pressure on Conor Kearns when he joined the kickaround at the back but stubbing his boot into the turf allowed the ball trickle straight to Matt Fitzpatrick.
All the former Antrim GAA star had to do was steer the loose ball into the empty net from 25 yards but his misjudged chip strayed past the post.
Far from being an early siege, yet the visitors seemed addled. For instance, Mark Coyle clearing the ball needlessly out of play was uncharacteristic and the captain lasted only 22 minutes due to a knee complaint.
Shels had given their vocal sold-out allocation of 1300 fans little to cheer about by then but the man of champions manifested in a tie-changing move two minutes later.
A dash to the endline by left wingback Tyreke Wilson resulted in a cross that found its way to Harry Wood.
Tricky as Wood he is, two Linfield defenders folded too easily when he feigned to shoot and the low effort beat Chris Johns but not Shields on the line.
When the home side failed to clear the looping ball, Coote took one touch just inside the box to steady himself before burying a right-footer into the bottom corner.
Wilson ought to have expanded the aggregate lead to three a minute later, only to blaze over after being left unmarked.
It all the hallmarks of a routine win for the League of Ireland title holders at that stage but a chaotic final 15 minutes of the half, added to by 10 in stoppage time, offered hope to Linfield.
First up in their favour was Shels losing another bedrock in Kearns. The early blunder hurt in body as well as mind, triggering a hamstring twinge as he kicked the ball out.
He was replaced by Lorcan Healy, the deputy who'd made three appearances in May, and the clear tactic from his namesake was to bombard him with deep crosses.
One of those on the stroke of the break was aimed for Ben Hall but the defender's aerial clash with Wilson led to the ball touching the latter's hand.
Up stepped Shields to send Healy the wrong way to level proceedings on the night but there would be further drama before the dressing-room visits.
Wilson's immediate surge into attack accrued a corner, from which Shels executed a rehearsed set-piece. That three-man move culminated with Kerr McInroy sweeping the ball into the corner but the celebrations were halted by a VAR check.
English Premier League referee Andy Madley was alerted to a tug on Euan East at the back post by Paddy Barrett and adjudged it so to keep the tie in the balance.
Linfield had hope and might have had an equaliser within 13 seconds of the restart arising from another howler. Healy was the culprit on this occasion with a wayward pass but redeemed himself by sticking out a foot to deny Callumn Morrison's scuffed shot.
That hope subsided on 63 when Hall saw red for clipping Mipo Odubeko as he raced clear. The defender was marooned as last man after a misplaced pass by teammate Matthew Orr presented the Shels striker with a snip to intercept.
Odubeko could have padded the cushion at the death when set free on the left but the save by Johns was academic as the Reds went marching on.
LINFIELD: C Johns; E McGee (K Offord 77), E East, M Orr, B Hall; K Miller (C Allen 83), C Shields, J Mulgrew (D McCullough 77), J Archer; C Morrison (C McKee 69), M Fitzpatrick.
SHELBOURNE: C Kearns (L Healy 31); E Caffrey, M Coyle (S Gannon 22), P Barrett, K Ledwidge, T Wilson (J Norris 83); K McInroy, JJ Lunney; A Coote (S Boyd 83), M Odubeko, H Wood.
Referee: Andrew Madley (ENG).
Attendance: 7000 (est).