Shelbourne head coach Joey O'Brien insisted that their aim was to secure group stage football in Europe in 2025 after his side navigated the challenge of Linfield to guarantee themselves at least three more European ties.
Leading 1-0 heading into this evening's Champions League first qualifying round second leg at Windsor Park, Shels doubled their advantage midway through the first half after Ali Coote drilled home the opener from the edge of the box.
Linfield equalised on the night in first half injury-time, Dubliner Chris Shields firing home from the penalty spot after Tyreke Wilson was penalised for handball.
There were occasional nervy moments, with misplaced passes from both of Shelbourne's goalkeepers - Lorcan Healy replaced the injured Conor Kearns after half an hour - gifting chances to the home side in either half.
However, Ben Hall's second half sending-off for hacking down Mipo Odubeko as the Shels striker raced through on goal calmed things and the 2024 League of Ireland champions were in control from there.
"Delighted to get through," O'Brien told RTÉ Sport's Tony O'Donoghue after the game. "It's obviously going to be a real tough night up here.
"The way the game sort of ebbed and flowed - the disallowed goal, them scoring just before half-time, the sending off in the second half.
"Us not being able to get that killer goal to kill the tie kept it alive right to the very death. But listen, great achievement.
"Delighted for everyone at the football club, the players, the staff, everyone in the background. That's what it's all about."
Shels had a ropey spell shortly before the interval, with Shields' equaliser and then Kerr McInroy's goal - after a rehearsed move from a corner - being disallowed by VAR for a tug in the lead-up.
O'Brien had no issue with either decision and commended the officials afterwards for their handling of the game, though he did feel his own team were sloppy on the ball in the run-in to the break.
However, they settled things in the second half, dominating the ball and dictating the rhythm of the game without finding the winner.
"I spoke to the lads at half-time. Just be calm and get back on the ball really and dominate possession," said O'Brien.
"I felt that we sort of lost our way a little bit at the end of the first half.
"I thought Kerr (McInroy), JJ (Lunney) - I don't want to name them all but particularly them two - controlled the game in the second half, absolutely dominated it.
'Delighted to get through. It was always going to be a really tough night up here' - Shelbourne head coach Joey O'Brien speaks to @CorkTOD after Shelbourne beat Linfield 2-1 on aggregate to progress in the Champions League pic.twitter.com/tMZKn3Pcry
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 16, 2025
"It took away the pressure of defending our box for a long period by controlling the football.
"But we actually didn't get that winner. So, you're always going to be on the edge, I suppose, for the last few minutes.
"I thought we created plenty of chances on the break. We knew, later on in the game, they were obviously going to have to throw bodies forward and have a real go at it.
"I felt we were a threat. I suppose if you were being harsh about it, we probably didn't go on and get that winner [on the night]. That was probably the only bad thing of the night, really."
The victory sets up a second qualifying round tie - home leg next week - with Azerbaijani champions Qarabag, Champions League group stage veterans who will be hot favourites to progress.
Beyond that, the Drumcondra club are guaranteed at least two further ties, with the losers of the second round tie headed for the Europa League qualifiers.
For O'Brien, he insists they can't be content with seeing off Linfield in an All-Ireland tie and stresses that the aim is clear, securing group stage football and emulating the feat of Shamrock Rovers in 2024.
"Listen, that's what it's all about.
"People in the background, the money and stuff like that, that's to do with them. But I said to the boys in there, European football, you can't beat it.
"When you're done as a player, these are the nights you remember. But you can't just be happy with this.
"We're looking to get group stages. That's the name of the game."
Linfield manager David Healy felt his side delivered a significantly improved performance but heaped praise on Shelbourne for the manner in which they controlled the game.
"First and foremost, credit to Joey and Shelbourne as a football club," Healy told RTÉ Sport.
"We certainly wish them well going forward. Of course, from my perspective, we're disappointed. I thought the level of performance, as I said last week, would be better. I thought it was.
"We made life a little bit harder for Shelbourne tonight. There was one or two moments on both halves that we could have and should have capitalised on. We didn't. Key moments at different times.
"Then the red card, we were in the process of making changes.
"Then you go down to 10 men and you can't afford that, certainly against a team like Shelbourne, who like to dominate the ball, like having the ball. So, we shot ourselves in the foot a little bit tonight."
But although he rued missed chances in either half, Healy said that Linfield had made life difficult for Shelbourne and that a mutual respect had grown between the clubs.
'I think the rapport both clubs have built up... I think there's been a huge mutual respect built up, which there should be between the two champions of the country' - Linfield manager speaks to @CorkTOD after Shels tie pic.twitter.com/AkdzAbhdX5
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 16, 2025
"I listened to the two guys (Alan Cawley and Stuart Byrne) on RTÉ last week and they were talking about coming to Windsor and Linfield would be a different animal.
"Shels don't really have - and this isn't being disrespectful - don't really have or didn't have real European experience as a club. There were two or three players who had sort of played at the level in European football.
"So, we wanted to make it as difficult as we could. I thought for periods tonight we did that.
"But listen, as I said at the start, credit to Joey, credit to Shelbourne.
"I think the rapport that both clubs have built up - I know there was a big crowd from Shelbourne here tonight. We only had 260 or 270 down to Tolka.
"But I think there's been a huge mutual respect built up, which there should be, with the two champions of the country.
"I say maybe in the future we'll go down to Tolka for a friendly and see what happens."
