Shelbourne are into the second qualifying round of the Champions League on away goals after tonight's goalless draw with Icelandic side KR Reykjavik at Tolka Park in Dublin.
The two goal fightback in the Icelandic capital which earned a 2-2 draw was enough for Shelbourne to set up a clash against Croatia's Hadjuk Split next week. Superior in almost every department, Shelbourne should have had the game wrapped up long before Reykjavik began causing some nervy moments deep into injury-time.
But, having made it past the first round for the first time since 2000, Shelbourne won't care how they got through. Reykjavik started the brighter with Kjartan Henry Finnbogason firing straight at Steve Williams in the first minute before a quick passing move involving Finnbogason, Sigmundur Kristjansson and Solvi Davidsson resulted in Williams doing well to parry Davidsson's stinging 20-yard drive moments later.
Shelbourne were never dominant in defence but they soon got to grips with the Icelanders' attacking threats, while causing problems of their own at the other end. Wes Hoolahan was the home side's main attacking threat, continually tormenting full-back Petr Podzemsky on the right wing.
It was the former Republic of Ireland Under-21 winger who created Shelbourne's first half-chance when his cross was gathered by goalkeeper Kristjan Finnbogason under pressure from Thomas Morgan at the second attempt.
Former Ireland international Alan Moore was also causing plenty of problems and he saw his hooked effort drift wide in the 11th minute after a David Crawley long pass had caught out the visiting defence. Jason Byrne sent a free header across the face of goal in the 37th minute after a fine move involving Ollie Cahill and Moore cut open the Reykjavik defence.
Byrne turned provider four minutes later when he raced onto a Hoolahan pass before whipping over a low cross which Finnbogason fumbled under pressure from Moore. The eircom Premier League champions continued in the same vein with Hoolahan forcing Finnbogason to turn his dangerous right-wing cross away for a corner in the 47th minute, while Jason Byrne volleyed wide from a tight angle after a superb Stuart Byrne pass had given him a sight of goal.
Shelbourne started the second half brightly with goalkeeper Finnbogason forced to tip a Hoolahan cross over his own bar while Jason Byrne volleyed wide from the edge of the area after a Stuart Byrne pass had put him through on goal. Reykjavik began to push forward but found the home defence impregnable with Williams forced to do nothing more than organise his troops.
Jason Byrne forced Finnbogason to save after a Crawley long ball put him through while Harris was guilty of placing a free header across the face of goal when an effort on goal may have been the better option after he was picked out by Hoolahan's free-kick.
Jason Byrne headed another Hoolahan free-kick just over the bar in the 69th minute and Hoolahan again was the provider in the 78th minute when his exquisite chip released Stuart Byrne - only for the midfielder to fire into the sidenetting.
Although the Icelanders showed some urgency in the fading minutes of the game, they could not deny the home side progress.
Filed by Barry J Whyte
