Eircom League champions Shelbourne made history by progressing to the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League and a meeting with Deportivo La Coruna following a 2-0 win over Hajduk Split at Tolka Park tonight. Goals from Dave Rogers and Alan Moore sent the Reds through 4-3 on aggregate.
Shels dominated the game from the outset. Ollie Cahill sent Glen Fitzpatrick through on goal after four minutes but Fitzpatrick was taken down by Croatian defender Blatnjak before he could do any damage.
The game was physical from the start and on 12 minutes, Vezic was yellow carded after taking Jason Byrne down from behind.
The home side could have taken the lead on 14 minutes but, after collecting Jason Byrne's cross from the right, Alan Moore's cheeky flick had too much power in it and the ball flew over the bar.
Shelbourne 'keeper Steve Williams came to his side's rescue on 17 minutes when he denied Blatnjak from close range after the Croat had collected a superb pass from Pralija.
At the other end, Split goalkeeper Kale denied a Glen Fitzpatrick header with his foot after Fitzpatrick had connected with an inch perfect cross from Moore deep on the right.
Moore tried his luck on 21 minutes with a superb shot from over 35 yards out but Kale got a fingertip to the ball and tipped it over the bar.
Stuart Byrne headed an Alan Moore free kick goalward on 24 minutes but Byrne's effort went straight at Kale.
Shelbourne had more genuine chances to take a deserved lead into the half time break but they couldn't find a way past the big and strong Split back four.
Split had the better start to the second half and Shelbourne found it more difficult to pass the ball around with the same ease they had enjoyed in the first period.
Shels also found it hard to get close to goal and instead relied on a number of long ball efforts.
The best of those came on 59 minutes when Ollie Cahill attempted to chip Kale from deep on the right wing. Cahill delivered his shot with pinpoint accuracy but Kale managed to get a hand to the ball and tipped it out for a corner.
Stuart Byrne should have done better on 69 minutes when he found himself in possession on the edge of the area but shot way over the post.
Carevic was given a yellow card on 72 minutes when he recklessly tackled Cahill.
Ger McCarthy replaced Glen Fitzpatrick on 73 minutes and was in the thick of things when he and Kale went for a 50/50 ball and the Croat 'keeper came off the worst.
Shelbourne then deservedly took the lead on 78 minutes. Split failed to clear a ball from right and Dave Rogers struck a fabulous shot from left of the penalty area. The ball sailed past Kale and into the top left corner of the net.
Alan Moore made sure of the win in injury time when he slotted in Joseph Ndo's pass after the Shels front men had carved the Split defence wide open
Shelbourne: Williams, Heary, Crawley, Rogers, Harris, Moore, Cahill, S Byrne, Fitzpatrick (McCarthy 73), J Byrne (Ndo 90), Hoolahan (Crawford 86).
Hajduk Split: Kale, Suto, Vejic, Blatnjak, Carevic, Racki (Dragicevic 55), Pralija, Zilic, Tilenkovic, Neretljak, Rukavina (Mesic 81).
Referee: Stanislav Sukhina, Assistant referees: Igor Kotkovski, Victor Lebedev, Fourth official: Mikhail Semenov (All Russia).
Shelbourne manager Pat Fenlon was delighted with his team's performance at Tolka Park tonight.
Speaking to RTÉ Television after the match, he said: "It's great for the team and for the fans. I'm very happy. We had a game plan and we stuck to it. I always had an idea that we'd score a goal. It's great, it's great for us and for the League."
"It's great for everybody. A great effort was put in. It's a reward for everyone. I'm looking forward to going to La Coruna."
Filed by Mark O'Neill-Cummins
