Shelbourne began their Champions League adventure tonight with an impressive 2-2 draw with Hibernians of Malta in Valetta. The eircom League champions got off to a brilliant start with Stuart Byrne scoring the opener with a header from Ollie Cahill's cross after a mere six minutes but Hibernians drew level a minute later through Ndubisi Chukunyere.
The home side then took the lead shortly before half-time when Adrian Pulis fired them ahead after Adrian Ciantar's free-kick from the right rebounded back off the upright. Hibs went close in the second-half to increasing their lead through Adrian Mifsud and Ciantar while Trevor Molloy missed an excellent chance to level matters between the two sides.
However, on 67 minutes Jim Gannon scored a vital second away goal for the eircom League side when he headed home a cross. As the minutes ticked by, Hibernians pushed hard for a winner but Shels did well to hold out for the draw.
The second leg of this first qualifying round tie takes place next Wednesday night at Tolka Park with the winners going on to meet Portuguese giants Boavista in the next round.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
