IT WAS A sign of just how hard Shelbourne Ladies had to battle on Tuesday evening that two of their star forwards sat on the bench nursing injuries during a tense and fraught final ten minutes in Belfast.
The Women’s National League champions had dug deep and pushed opponents Medyk Konin to their absolute limits during their Women’s Champions League qualifier.
The Polish side were European regulars known for their goal-scoring exploits and held an incredible 100 goal difference on the side that trailed behind them in second place in their domestic league.
Despite the odds stacked against them playing the first seeds in the first of three crucial qualifiers, Shaun Maher’s side prevailed to earn what could prove to be an absolutely crucial point with a 0-0 draw.
Just one side from Group 4 will automatically qualify for the Champions League proper, with Konin, Shelbourne, Linfield and Finish side PK-35 Vantaa, who Shelbourne face later tonight, all aiming for top spot in the four-team mini-tournament in Seaview.
Gloria Douglas and Leanne Kiernan were helpless on the sidelines as their side gave away a late penalty which looked to have dashed all hope of a result.
Defender Seana Cooke was deemed to have blocked a goal-scoring opportunity off the line with her arm and was given a straight red card with 82 minutes on the clock. Hindsight would prove her decision-making crucial, even with a one-game suspension ruling her out of tonight’s game.
With breaths held and some of the many traveling supporters from Dublin with heads buried in their hands, an ecstatic release finally came as Konin’s Kystyna Sikora blasted the penalty terribly over the crossbar.
With five minutes remaining Shels found the strength to prevail despite a late onslaught from the Polish champions, the Dublin club roared on by a vocal and inspired contingent of fans and family members who had made the trip in supporters’ buses from Dublin earlier in the day.
Forward Douglas returned just weeks ago to link back up with Shelbourne again following a stay in her native United States playing for the Washington Spirit.
She admitted in the week prior to their opening qualifier that getting the chance to return to Ireland, play Champions League football and build more memories with the National League and Women’s FAI Cup holders was too good to turn down.
She was integral as the Reds claimed a historic double last year and, following the 0-0 with Konin on Tuesday, reflected that the opportunity to come back to Dublin and rekindle that bond was a no-brainer
“Sometimes the experience is worth more than money,” she said speaking to The42.
“I’m just really happy to be a part of this family that we have at Shels and playing Champions League football only adds to that. I couldn’t ask for much else.
“It’s nice to come back and know some of the girls and have that bond in Ireland. I was really welcomed back and it’s easy to come back to a team that really wants you. I was really, really lucky.”
Despite their want to play technical, passing football from early stages on Tuesday, Shelbourne quickly pushed Konin out of their comfort zone, not allowing them the time nor space to put plays together.
The Reds created a host of goal-scoring opportunities themselves, with Douglas and Cavan forward Kiernan rekindling the strike partnership which proved so potent last season.
“We had a game plan going in and just had to stick to it,” Douglas said afterwards.
“Honestly we didn’t really know what to expect a bit. We knew that we had to let it play out and just stick to our guns in defence. We knew we wouldn’t have all the possession in the world, but that doesn’t matter in the end as long as you get a result.
“We were on the defensive end of things for most of the match, but we also had some good chances of our own as well. It was awesome — an awesome showing from us and I’m just really happy.
“There was a ball from Siobhan Killeen and I was just ready to put it into the back of the net but it just flew over the bar. Honestly it would have been amazing to have gone in at the break a goal up to put them on their heels a bit.
“But we did have some good chances. It’s so good being back playing with Leanne and Siobhan. We have a good connection on the field and we all just worked really, really hard.”
She describes feeling helpless on the sideline after she was brought off late suffering from cramp. Will it rule her out for Friday? “Nothing’s stopping me missing Friday’s game,” she laughs still slightly hobbling. “I definitely can’t miss it!
“I was freaking out on the sideline towards the end. When you put everything into something and you just want to play… I felt like all of us were on board and we were all trying so hard on the pitch. It was a battle — credit to Konin, they’re a great side and a professional team as well.
“But I’m just so happy with how we all played and how we all came together. I’m speechless at this point, I was on the edge of my seat when I came off thinking ‘oh my God, what’s going to happen next?!’ That’s what you always want out of a game.”
She explains that it is a big blow to have Cooke suspended for Friday’s game following her late red card, but maintains that after the penalty was conceded she had every faith that goalkeeper and Ireland underage international Amanda McQuillan would stand the test.
“It’s unfortunate the way everything went down. At the end of the day it’s the referee’s call, you can scream and yell but you can’t really do much about it. I was just hoping that Amanda would come good and save it, and I wouldn’t have been surprised at all if she did because she’s a great goalkeeper.
“So it just worked in our favour and when I saw it go over the bar I just thought ‘we’re still in this, come on!’”
Whereas Shelbourne are an amateur side, Konin are a professional team which trains throughout the week, hence their regular appearances at the latter stages of the Champions League.
They were knocked out at the last 32 in 2015 (when they beat Wexford Youths in qualification) and 2016 by Glasgow City and Olympique Lyon respectively.
Gaining a crucial point against the favourites has not only put Shelbourne into a strong position to qualify, but also builds confidence in the squad ahead of their final two games.
Despite holding on for a point late on after going down to 10 players, Shelbourne could easily have taken the lead against Konin, especially during a first half where their opponents look unhinged and nervous.
Douglas hopes that other sides in the group will now give Shelbourne the respect they have earned over the last number of months. National League and FAI Cup double winners on top of pushing a fully professional side and top seeds to within reach of a shock win — and more than a deserved point on Tuesday — they have every reason to be confident.
“It gives us momentum and morale in the locker room,” the forward says.
“I hope that some teams might now take a second look at us and think ‘they’ve come here to play.’ We have a good squad and just have to rest and make sure we’re good to go for Friday. I’m super, super excited.”
Shelbourne face Finish champions PK-35 Vantaa in Belfast this evening, the second of their three qualifiers, before taking on Linfield on Monday in their third and final game.
Only the group winner is guaranteed an automatic place in the 2017/18 Champions League, with Raheny United the last Irish club to have made it four years ago in 2013/14.
With style, determination, silverware, a squad brimming with self-belief and a crucial point from Tuesday as their platform going forward, ahead of tonight’s second test Shelbourne have every reason to believe they can go all the way.
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