Shelbourne are out of the Champions League after they were punished for missing chance after chance by a late Hibernians goal to go down 3-2 on aggregate. Chukinyere was the man to break Shelbourne hearts with a strike on 89 minutes just as the Dubliners were eyeing a mouthwatering tie against Portugal's Boavista in the next round. Man of the match goes to Hibernians goalkeeper Muscat who denied Shelbourne on numerous occasions to keep his team in the contest when they scarcely deserved it.
The first chance of the game fell to Richie Baker after a great piece of skill from Ollie Cahill saw him pull away from two Hibernians players and find Baker on the righthand-side of the area with space. His side footed shot drifted left and wide however. Moments later and Shelbourne came close again, this time Trevor Molloy produced a beautiful dummy to leave his marker stranded on the corner of the box, he stepped inside and teed-up Stuart Byrne whose shot was deflected wide.
Molloy was at it again on the half-hour mark when he turned inside his marker to send a powerful shot straight at Muscat in the Hibernians goal. 10 mins before half-time he was at fault for missing the game's best chance however when his weak header from Cahill's free-kick was blocked on the line by Muscat.
Muscat was on hand to deny Shelbourne again just after the restart when he was quick off his line to block Molloy's shot from 6 yards. Shortly after and another Shelbourne chance went a begging when a good move down the left by Baker set up Cahill outside the box. His thunderous shot was saved by Muscat and the rebound fell to Molloy whose weak effort sailed wide.
Steve Williams was having a quiet time in the Shelbourne goal in comparison to his opposite number but was alert enough to get down well to claim a good long range effort from Mbong. Shelbourne continued to attack and create openings though and were denied the opener after 68 mins when Gannon headed past Muscat for the first time only to be denied by the offside flag.
As the game wore on the home side began to tire and Hibernians began to enjoy somewhat of purple patch, causing a few heart stopping moments in the Shelbourne goal. And in the end that purple patch produced the winner from Chukinyere just as Shelbourne's thoughts were turning to Boavista. He made a late dash into the box and latched onto a Zahra pull-back to give Williams no chance from close range and break Shelbourne hearts.
Elsewhere, Portadown lost 3-2 away to Belshina Bobruisk of Belarus, and go out 3-2 on aggregate, while Barry Town lost 1-0 to Skonto Riga of Latvia and lose 6-0 on aggregate.
Filed by Johnny Proby
