Linfield 0-2 Shelbourne (Shels win 5-1 on aggregate)
Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Santa Clara (Rovers win 2-1 on aggregate)
28 Aug 2025
7:35PM
Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.
It’s another huge night for Irish football, with Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers 90 (or potentially 120) minutes away from a place in the Conference League group stages.
A reminder that Shels lead Linfield 3-1 from the first leg, and the Hoops have a 2-1 advantage against Portuguese side Santa Clara.
The game at Windsor Park kicks off at 7.45pm, while it’s an 8pm start for Rovers.
We’ll be focusing primarily on Shelbourne, while keeping a close eye on developments at Tallaght.
28 Aug 2025
7:37PM
Here’s how Shels and Linfield line up…
𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐗𝐈 🔴⚪️
Here’s your XI to face Linfield tonight.
Two changes from the first leg, Sean Gannon and Ali Coote come into the side.
Shelbourne fans at the game. Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
28 Aug 2025
8:01PM
13 mins: Offord gets away from Barrett and bursts into the area.
But Speel is alert and averts the threat by coming off his line quickly, smothering the ball and taking a knock from the onrushing attacker for his troubles.
28 Aug 2025
8:03PM
It’s kicked off now at Tallaght Stadium…
28 Aug 2025
8:07PM
19 mins: Odubeko gets on the end of a hopeful ball. The striker is through on goal and lobs the keeper, but it comes off the top of the crossbar.
It would have been offside anyway, but it shows how effective going route one can be for the visitors.
It’s a great goal. Coote finds Wood with a terrific lofted pass, and the former Hull youngster, who timed his forward run to perfection, volleys it home with his sidefoot.
28 Aug 2025
8:12PM
26 mins: McKee puts in a dangerous cross.
But Norris is alert and gets to the ball just ahead of Millar.
An attendance of 8,223 has been confirmed tonight at Tallaght.
The game is in the 81st minute as Rovers continue to hold an aggregate lead.
28 Aug 2025
9:42PM
So Shelbourne reach the Conference League group stages for the first time.
Joey O’Brien could hardly have hoped for a more comfortable evening.
The Premier Division outfit survived one minor scare early on.
But otherwise, it was a routine win for the Dublin side, who conceded very few chances.
After 23rd and 30th-minute goals from Harry Wood and the magnificent Ali Coote, the reigning League of Ireland champions barely looked back as they coasted to a historic victory.
For the first time, two Irish sides have qualified for the Uefa Conference League group stages.
And Shamrock Rovers have become the first Irish side to qualify without relying on the champions’ path, impressively beating Santa Clara, who finished fifth in the Portuguese top flight last season.
Both the Hoops and Shels will each receive a minimum €3.8 million in prize money as a result of their achievements.
Big credit to Stephen Bradley and Joey O’Brien for taking their sides this far and raising the standards of Irish football as a whole.
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AS IT HAPPENED: Shels and Rovers reach Conference League group stages
Linfield 0-2 Shelbourne (Shels win 5-1 on aggregate)
Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Santa Clara (Rovers win 2-1 on aggregate)
Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.
It’s another huge night for Irish football, with Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers 90 (or potentially 120) minutes away from a place in the Conference League group stages.
A reminder that Shels lead Linfield 3-1 from the first leg, and the Hoops have a 2-1 advantage against Portuguese side Santa Clara.
The game at Windsor Park kicks off at 7.45pm, while it’s an 8pm start for Rovers.
We’ll be focusing primarily on Shelbourne, while keeping a close eye on developments at Tallaght.
Here’s how Shels and Linfield line up…
Here are the starting XIs for Rovers and Santa Clara…
We’re underway at Windsor Park…
2 mins: A nervy moment for Shels.
A hopeful ball into the area breaks kindly for Roscoe, but Gannon is on hand to make a strong last-ditch tackle.
7 mins: Aside from that one early scare, Shels look pretty comfortable so far.
They are seeing plenty of the ball and holding onto it well, in the knowledge that they don’t have to take any unnecessary risks.
13 mins: Offord gets away from Barrett and bursts into the area.
But Speel is alert and averts the threat by coming off his line quickly, smothering the ball and taking a knock from the onrushing attacker for his troubles.
It’s kicked off now at Tallaght Stadium…
19 mins: Odubeko gets on the end of a hopeful ball. The striker is through on goal and lobs the keeper, but it comes off the top of the crossbar.
It would have been offside anyway, but it shows how effective going route one can be for the visitors.
LINFIELD 0-1 SHELBOURNE (WOOD 23)
Shels lead 1-0 on the night and 4-1 on aggregate.
It’s a great goal. Coote finds Wood with a terrific lofted pass, and the former Hull youngster, who timed his forward run to perfection, volleys it home with his sidefoot.
26 mins: McKee puts in a dangerous cross.
But Norris is alert and gets to the ball just ahead of Millar.
Here’s a look at the opening goal…
LINFIELD 0-2 SHELBOURNE (COOTE 30)
Shels double their advantage.
It starts with some nice play down the left.
Norris receives the ball on the overlapping run and his low cross finds Odubeko who lays it off to Coote.
The midfielder’s low first-time shot finds the corner of the net via a slight deflection.
It’s been a relatively uneventful start at Tallaght.
The visitors have plenty of the ball without creating clear-cut chances.
37 mins: Shels look very comfortable.
They are letting Linfield pass it along the backline, but the hosts aren’t really going anywhere or posing much of a threat.
Here’s a look at the second Shels goal…
45 mins: It feels like a bit of a non-contest at the moment.
Linfield have barely threatened in this half and look like a beaten team.
HALF-TIME: LINFIELD 0-2 SHELBOURNE
Still 0-0 in Tallaght.
Honohan has come close to extending Rovers’ aggregate advantage, with his effort from the edge of the area coming back off the crossbar.
HALF-TIME: SHAMROCK ROVERS 0-0 SANTA CLARA
The second half is underway at Windsor Park…
53 mins: It’s been a scrappy, low-key start to the second half.
Neither side have really threatened, and Shels will be happy if it stays that way.
57 mins: Chance for Shels.
Barrett gets to McInroy’s header.
The defender’s downward header hits off the woodwork and drifts away to safety.
60 mins: Triple change for Linfield.
Millar, Roscoe and Archer are off.
Taylor, Brown and Allen are on.
61 mins: Now Shels make three changes.
Odubeko, McInroy and Mbeng go off
Martin, Coyle and Caffrey come on.
It’s back underway at Tallaght, with the game still scoreless on the night.
70 mins: Offord does well to get away from a couple of players before being fouled by Coyle on the edge of the area.
Can Linfield score what would be a consolation at this stage?
74 mins: McClean hits a low free kick from the edge of the area narrowly wide
It’s McClean’s last act as both himself and McKee are replaced by Yates and Morrison.
Shels also make a change — Kelly comes on for the goalscorer Wood.
Shamrock Rovers have gone close again.
A free kick by Watts is headed wide by Lopes.
Rovers make a change.
Graham Burke is on for Darragh Nugent.
25 minutes of normal time remain.
82 mins: Shels make another change
Ledwidge is on for Bone.
83 mins: Yates gets a sight of goal from the edge of the area.
But the substitute’s shot sails a few inches over.
Four minutes of normal time remain.
The two teams are essentially playing out time, as has been the case for most of the second half.
Rovers goalkeeper McGinty has been forced into a good save to keep the match scoreless.
It looks set to be a nervy final few minutes there.
Noonan is also on in place of Gaffney.
There will be three minutes of stoppage time at Windsor Park…
90 mins: Kelly’s cross finds Martin.
But the striker’s first-time finish under pressure from the defender is straight at Johns.
92 mins: Shields gets booked for following Coote on the edge of the area.
The former Dundee United youngster has contributed a goal and an assist, and is a strong candidate for player of the match.
FULL-TIME: LINFIELD 0-2 SHELBOURNE
An attendance of 8,223 has been confirmed tonight at Tallaght.
The game is in the 81st minute as Rovers continue to hold an aggregate lead.
So Shelbourne reach the Conference League group stages for the first time.
Joey O’Brien could hardly have hoped for a more comfortable evening.
The Premier Division outfit survived one minor scare early on.
But otherwise, it was a routine win for the Dublin side, who conceded very few chances.
After 23rd and 30th-minute goals from Harry Wood and the magnificent Ali Coote, the reigning League of Ireland champions barely looked back as they coasted to a historic victory.
Another change for Rovers.
McEneff has replaced Watts.
We’re into stoppage time at Tallaght Stadium.
Rovers are nearly there.
I should add that five minutes of additional time at Tallaght are being played…
FULL-TIME: SHAMROCK ROVERS 0-0 SANTA CLARA
So that’s that.
For the first time, two Irish sides have qualified for the Uefa Conference League group stages.
And Shamrock Rovers have become the first Irish side to qualify without relying on the champions’ path, impressively beating Santa Clara, who finished fifth in the Portuguese top flight last season.
Both the Hoops and Shels will each receive a minimum €3.8 million in prize money as a result of their achievements.
Big credit to Stephen Bradley and Joey O’Brien for taking their sides this far and raising the standards of Irish football as a whole.
Right, that’s all from me for now.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
We’ll have more reaction on the site shortly.
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