It's nice when League of Ireland clubs walk into European ties with not just hope, but expectation.
This week, both Shelbourne and St Patrick’s Athletic showed why that shift in belief was more than just optimism.
Two 1-0 wins, two dominant performances, and two nights where Irish clubs didn’t just compete - they controlled.
Let’s start with Shelbourne. Under the lights of Tolka Park on Wednesday, Joey O’Brien’s side showed precisely what happens when preparation meets opportunity.
Linfield were arriving for their first competitive fixture of the season, and it showed.
Shels, deep into their campaign and full of running, were sharper, fitter and more aggressive from the outset.
The tone was set early. Every time Shelbourne pressed, Linfield stumbled. It wasn’t just physical superiority, though. It was the structure, the relentlessness, the belief in the team that they were the superior side.
When centre-back Paddy Barrett popped up on the left wing to deliver a cross for Evan Caffrey—who nearly nodded Shels ahead - you saw a team attacking with aggression.
Caffrey’s energy, Wood’s enthusiasm, and a backline that looked comfortable throughout all spoke to a side fully in tune with their roles.
And yet, for all their dominance, the breakthrough required a moment of initiative - something Shelbourne’s bench provided.
On the 56th minute, Boyd, Wilson and Kelly entered. Within a minute, Shels had their goal. A Ledwidge clearance led to Odubeko and Boyd linking up smartly, and despite a quiet evening, it was Odubeko who found space on the edge of the area and finished neatly with a left footed finish.
The pressure didn’t relent. Shels pushed for a second, and while it didn’t come, there was an authority about the performance that suggested they’ve got more to give next week.
With the return leg at Windsor Park to come, the narrow lead may not feel like enough—but with a bigger pitch and Linfield’s evident lack of match sharpness, it’s hard to bet against Shelbourne finishing the job.
If Shels impressed with physicality and structure, St Patrick’s Athletic dominated their game with an aggressive press and excellent control of the game in their showing against Hegelmann.
Their 1-0 win last night at Richmond Park might sound tight, but the reality was anything but.
From the first minute, Pats were the better side. In fact, they looked levels above their Lithuanian opposition in almost every department.
The standout on the night? Mason Melia. Still just 17, the teenager delivered the kind of performance that reminded us all why he’s regarded as the most exciting young talent in the league.
Yes, he missed a couple of chances—one notably from a clever Brandon Kavanagh through ball where he opted for power instead of placement—but the movement, the awareness, his athleticism and the confidence were all there.
You have to make allowances for inexperience in moments like that, and you file them under "invaluable learning."
But Melia’s night was far from defined by those missed opportunities. He was a constant menace, darting in front of defenders to attack crosses from both flanks and drawing fouls in dangerous areas.
In fact, he was central to the game’s decisive moment - arguably fouled himself in the build-up before Barry Baggley was chopped down to win the penalty.
Up stepped Aidan Keena, not long on the pitch, to confidently slot it home. A big goal for a player whose form has stuttered in patches this season. The timing couldn’t be better—for Keena, for Pats, and for their European ambitions.
Much like Shelbourne, Pats never looked like conceding. Hegelmann posed little threat aside from the odd counter attack, which the home side handled with calm assurance.
Both Irish sides now take 1-0 leads into the second legs of their ties—but their tasks differ.
For Shels, the trip to Windsor Park presents a psychological challenge more than a tactical one. They’ve done the hard part; now they need to finish the job on a bigger pitch, where their fitness and cohesion should shine through even more.
For Pats, the away leg in Lithuania is a trickier ask. The tie moves to an artificial surface, a surface that always adds uncertainty.
But on the evidence of last night’s display, they have more than enough in the tank to see it out. The only concern might be if they leave the door open too long.
A second goal would have been a cushion - but confidence in this group will be high after last night’s efforts.
Two games, two wins, two clean sheets. It’s early days in the European journey, but what a promising start.
For the League of Ireland, this has been a good week. The results have been good, but the performances have matched them.
These weren’t smash-and-grab jobs. They were controlled, mature, and in both cases, deserving of a bigger winning margin.
We’ve been asking for nights like these. Hopefully next week we are provided with them.
