It’s a huge night for Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne.
Shels, who kick off at Tolka Park against Linfield at 7.45pm, are favourites, especially given that they already knocked the NIFL Premiership side out of the Champions League qualifiers.
Linfield, though, had barely started their season when the sides met last month, and have played seven games in the interim period and will consequently be more match-sharp this time around.
We’ll also be keeping a close eye on Stephen Bradley’s side, whose first leg away to Santa Clara begins at 8pm.
Unlike Shels, the Hoops will be perceived as the underdogs against a side who finished fifth in the Portuguese Primeira Liga last season, although they have begun their new campaign poorly, losing their opening two league games and failing to score in either.
The significant prize of entry into the Conference League group stage/league phase and a cash injection of at least around €3.7 million is at stake, so these are, without question, the most important games both Irish clubs have experienced in their season so far.
Speel goes the right way and parries away Offord’s poor penalty.
That spot kick emanated from Barrett handling the ball close to the goal line after Roscoe headed McGee’s delivery across the goal.
21 Aug 2025
9:13PM
There’s been some drama in Portugal as well.
Santa Clara have the ball in the net, but it’s ruled out for offside.
21 Aug 2025
9:14PM
Here’s a look at the penalty award and miss…
Shelbourne 2-1 Linfield A THIRD penalty of the night at Tolka Park and second miss, this time from Offord as Speel makes a good save. Yellow for Barrett for handball. 📺 Watch live on @RTE2 and @RTEPlayer#UECLpic.twitter.com/4rImfCspeg
Watts’ free kick is laid off to Mandroiu by Honohan, and the attacking midfielder produces a clinical finish.
21 Aug 2025
9:30PM
Here’s a look at the third Shels goal…
Shelbourne 3-1 Linfield Sub Evan Caffrey restores Shels' two-goal lead after Wood's shot comes back off the post 📱 Updates: http3://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2025/0821/1529533-conference-league-play-off-shelbourne-v-linfield/ 📺 Watch live on @RTE2 and @RTEPlayer#UECLpic.twitter.com/DVRrmA1fFv
It could have been better, and it could have been worse, given the penalty misses from both sides.
Linfield will argue the red card was harsh, and David Healy was also unhappy with a few other decisions that went against his team.
The Dubliners made their man advantage count, however, and deserved the victory, with the likes of Odubeko, Caffrey and man-of-the-match Wood among the standout players.
The Premier Division outfit have one foot in the next round, but it won’t be easy in front of a hostile Windsor Park crowd in the return leg on Thursday next week.
21 Aug 2025
9:48PM
We’re into five minutes of added time in Portugal, with Rovers still 2-1 up.
So Shamrock Rovers prevail on a memorable night for Irish football.
Both ties are far from over, of course, ahead of next Thursday’s second leg.
But with Shels bringing a two-goal lead to Belfast and Shamrock Rovers benefiting from home advantage, there is a real possibility of having two teams in the Uefa Conference League main draw for the first time.
The Hoops would also become the first Irish team to qualify for the competition without going through the Champions Path, as they bid to reach the Conference League proper for the third time in four seasons.
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As it happened: Shels v Linfield, Santa Clara v Shamrock Rovers
Shelbourne 3-1 Linfield
Santa Clara 1-2 Shamrock Rovers
Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.
It’s a huge night for Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne.
Shels, who kick off at Tolka Park against Linfield at 7.45pm, are favourites, especially given that they already knocked the NIFL Premiership side out of the Champions League qualifiers.
Linfield, though, had barely started their season when the sides met last month, and have played seven games in the interim period and will consequently be more match-sharp this time around.
We’ll also be keeping a close eye on Stephen Bradley’s side, whose first leg away to Santa Clara begins at 8pm.
Unlike Shels, the Hoops will be perceived as the underdogs against a side who finished fifth in the Portuguese Primeira Liga last season, although they have begun their new campaign poorly, losing their opening two league games and failing to score in either.
The significant prize of entry into the Conference League group stage/league phase and a cash injection of at least around €3.7 million is at stake, so these are, without question, the most important games both Irish clubs have experienced in their season so far.
Here’s how Shelbourne line out tonight…
And here is Shamrock Rovers’ starting XI…
This is Linfield’s team for this evening…
And finally, here’s the Santa Clara team…
Quick poll. Which Premier Division sides will go through to the league phase?
Poll Results:
We’re underway at Tolka…
5 mins: It’s been a fairly uneventful opening.
The game has been scrappy and nervy, befitting of the enormity of the occasion, with both sides playing with caution and no clear chances yet.
6 mins: Chance for Shelbourne!
McInroy picks out an unmarked Odubeko with a cross, but the striker’s header is off target.
The ex-West Ham and Man United youngster could have done better there.
8 mins: Harry Wood gets away from Chris Shields, and the winger’s decent effort from distance is comfortably saved by Chris Johns.
Shels have looked the more likely to break the deadlock in these opening stages.
15 mins: Shelbourne are seeing plenty of the ball, but haven’t yet been able to break through a well-organised Linfield rearguard.
There’s a break in play at the moment, as Linfield’s Joshua Archer has taken a knock but should be alright to continue.
It’s underway in Ponta Delgada in the game between Santa Clara and Shamrock Rovers.
RED CARD FOR LINFIELD’S MATTHEW FITZPATRICK!
Big moment.
Linfield’s Matthew Fitzpatrick has been shown a straight red card.
It came after he caught Milan Mbeng with a high boot.
The decision looked a little harsh, judging by the one replay I saw.
Here’s a look at that red card incident…
It’s been a low-key start in Portugal, with no real chances created after 10 minutes.
25 mins: Big chance for Linfield!
McInroy’s pass goes straight to Kieran Offord.
The striker tries to get away from the goalkeeper and shoots just over the bar.
31 mins: Shelbourne have, as expected, become increasingly dominant since the red card.
Linfield, though, are doing a decent job sitting back and frustrating their rivals.
35 mins: More sustained pressure from Shels.
Lunney tries to pick out Martin with a dinked cross, but it only finds the goalkeeper’s arms.
SANTA CLARA 1-0 SHAMROCK ROVERS (LOPES 20)
Vinícius Lopes has given the hosts the lead against Shamrock Rovers.
Initially, Ed McGinty makes a good save from Gabriel Silva’s effort, but Lopes is on hand to head home the rebound.
PENALTY TO SHELBOURNE!
It looks like Wood’s cross deflected off the arm of a Linfield player.
PENALTY MISSED!
Odubeko blazes it over the bar.
He slips as he strikes the ball, so it’s unfortunate.
David Healy is an animated figure on the touchline.
He was incensed by the red card decision and was also unimpressed with the penalty awarded.
PENALTY TO SHELBOURNE!
SHELBOURNE 1-0 LINFIELD (WOOD 46)
The referee awards another penalty after Ben Hall concedes possession and compounds his error by chopping down Odubeko just inside the area.
This time, Harry Wood steps up and scores, despite Johns getting a hand to his spot kick.
48 mins: The lively Wood gets the ball about 30 yards out and tries his luck.
Johns gets down well to make the save.
HALF-TIME: SHELBOURNE 1-0 LINFIELD
First of all, here’s a look at the penalty miss…
And here’s the Wood goal…
SANTA CLARA 1-1 SHAMROCK ROVERS (GRANT 43)
HALF-TIME: SANTA CLARA 1-1 SHAMROCK ROVERS
SHELBOURNE 2-0 LINFIELD (ODUBEKO 46)
Shels make the perfect start to the second half.
Caffrey, who replaced Bone at the break, finds Odubeko with a low cross.
The striker creates space, and his shot finds the net via a deflection.
Meanwhile, in Portugal, just before half-time, Danny Grant levelled for Rovers.
The winger was set up by Mandoiu, and his shot found the net via a deflection.
SHELBOURNE 2-1 LINFIELD (OFFORD 53)
Offord heads home from close range, after Coyle tries to head it clear but unwittingly registers an assist
Linfield badly needed that, while Shels will feel they can score another goal or two at least under the circumstances.
Play has resumed in the game between Santa Clara and Shamrock Rovers.
Here’s a look at the Linfield goal…
PENALTY TO LINFIELD!
PENALTY SAVED!
Speel goes the right way and parries away Offord’s poor penalty.
That spot kick emanated from Barrett handling the ball close to the goal line after Roscoe headed McGee’s delivery across the goal.
There’s been some drama in Portugal as well.
Santa Clara have the ball in the net, but it’s ruled out for offside.
Here’s a look at the penalty award and miss…
67 mins: During all that madness, Coote and Kelly replaced Martin and McInroy.
The two substitutes nearly linked up, but Kelly’s header from Coote’s cross was straight at Johns.
57 mins: Both sides in Portugal have now had goals ruled out for offside after a VAR check.
Gaffney briefly thought he had given Rovers the lead.
73 mins: Linfield have survived a couple of scares in recent minutes.
Firstly, Sam Roscoe deflects Milan Mbeng’s cross onto the crossbar.
Then Mbeng’s low cross eludes everyone.
Shels will feel they need at least another goal to make the return leg less daunting.
SHELBOURNE 3-1 LINFIELD (CAFFREY 77)
Wood’s pot shot takes a deflection and comes back off the post.
It falls kindly for the substitute Caffrey, who converts an easy tap-in.
In the immediate aftermath of the goal, Shels make a double change.
Moore and Gannon come on, Mbeng and Coyle go off.
SANTA CLARA 1-2 SHAMROCK ROVERS (MANDROIU 66)
Rovers are ahead.
Watts’ free kick is laid off to Mandroiu by Honohan, and the attacking midfielder produces a clinical finish.
Here’s a look at the third Shels goal…
85 mins: Linfield make a double change.
Offord and Millar are replaced by Mulgrew and Morrison.
Odubeko wins a free kick on the edge of the area after McClean challenges him from behind.
The penalty miss was a moment to forget, but the 22-year-old striker has been excellent since then, proving a real handful for Linfield’s defence.
There will be five minutes of stoppage time.
RTÉ’s Pat Fenlon has named Shelbourne’s Harry Wood as the man of the match.
93 mins: Shels are camped in Linfield territory in the dying seconds.
The Dublin side are pushing for a fourth that would surely put the outcome of the tie beyond doubt.
93 mins: Another Linfield change – Sean Brown replaces Ethan McGee.
FULL-TIME: SHELBOURNE 3-1 LINFIELD
So that’s that.
Shelbourne will be relatively happy overall.
It could have been better, and it could have been worse, given the penalty misses from both sides.
Linfield will argue the red card was harsh, and David Healy was also unhappy with a few other decisions that went against his team.
The Dubliners made their man advantage count, however, and deserved the victory, with the likes of Odubeko, Caffrey and man-of-the-match Wood among the standout players.
The Premier Division outfit have one foot in the next round, but it won’t be easy in front of a hostile Windsor Park crowd in the return leg on Thursday next week.
We’re into five minutes of added time in Portugal, with Rovers still 2-1 up.
FULL-TIME: SANTA CLARA 1-2 SHAMROCK ROVERS
So Shamrock Rovers prevail on a memorable night for Irish football.
Both ties are far from over, of course, ahead of next Thursday’s second leg.
But with Shels bringing a two-goal lead to Belfast and Shamrock Rovers benefiting from home advantage, there is a real possibility of having two teams in the Uefa Conference League main draw for the first time.
The Hoops would also become the first Irish team to qualify for the competition without going through the Champions Path, as they bid to reach the Conference League proper for the third time in four seasons.
Right, that’s all from me. Thanks for reading and commenting.
You can read our Shelbourne report here, and we’ll have more reaction to follow.
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