It was a case of so close, yet so far as Shelbourne's Europa League dream ended on a dramatic and memorable night at Tolka Park, yet ambitions of Conference football will now become the focus of attention.
The surprise 2-1 away win against Croatian champions Rijeka meant Joey O’Brien’s side entered the third qualifying round second leg full of hope.
The visitors demonstrated their class with some superb goals on Irish soil, but Mipo Odubeko's penalty, after a lengthy VAR consultation, appeared to send the game to extra-time and keep alive the League of Ireland side’s hopes of a €3.8m windfall if they could finish the job off.
Ante Orec, however, proved to be the villain at Tolka Park, blasting into the bottom corner in the 90th minute to consign Shels to the Conference League play-offs.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport’s Tony O’Donoghue after the game, Shels midfielder Kerr McInroy lamented the outcome.
"We’re really disappointed with the result. They’re obviously a really good side and showed that," he said.
"It was a difficult game. I thought we did ourselves proud over the two legs, but it wasn’t to be."
Just three minutes into the contest and loud calls for a penalty after visiting goalkeeper Martin Zlomislic collided with Ali Coote fell on deaf ears. Referee Marian Barbu was uninterested and it was Rijeka who would open the scoring.
"We wanted to start the game well, and we did that," the Scottish midfielder said. "That was a big chance for us, but it wasn’t to be. They got the first goal, and it was a sucker-punch for us."
On the flip side, Mipo’s 86th-minute penalty shifted the momentum back to the hosts as the home crowd started to consider extra-time and penalties to settle the tie.
"It was a bit bizarre," he said of the lengthy VAR wait before awarding the penalty. "It felt like it went on forever. Once they went to the monitor, I had a gut feeling it would be given. When it went in, the place was rocking and I felt the momentum switched to us, but it wasn’t to be."
Now Shels will meet Linfield, who they overcame in a Champions League qualifier last month, or Faroese outfit Vikingur for a far more winnable tie and Conference League group combat after 10 matches to get there.
The Europa League exit – particularly the manner of it – will hurt, but the 24-year-old is already looking to the next European opportunity.
"We’ll see how that tie (between Linfield and Vikingur) pans out, but it’s another opportunity after we’ll dust ourselves down from this.
"That’s what we’re looking forward to now."
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