Shelbourne progressed past Linfield 5-1 on aggregate after a 2-0 win in the second leg, securing €3.17m and a place in the UEFA Conference League league phase. The Dublin side arrived with a two-goal cushion from a chaotic 3-1 first leg at Tolka Park. Harry Wood's 23rd-minute strike and Ali Coote's deflected finish put the tie beyond reach by half-time. Linfield lacked invention in the final third and were largely outclassed. Damien Duff departed in June and Joey O'Brien took charge, presiding over a composed, classy victory. The league phase draw will be held in Monaco.
By the interval Shels were two up ahead and coasting. Harry Wood's sublime 23rd minute goal and Ali Coote's deflected finish seven minutes later meant the tie was over as a contest by the break. The Blues avoided further damage but in reality they were swept aside. For Linfield and their manager David Healy, this is a third play-off defeat in six years.
When the two Irish champions collided last month, Shelbourne ran out 2-1 aggregate victors, winning the first leg 1-0 at Tolka Park, followed by a 1-1 draw at Windsor Park. Uefa's bizarre qualifying process then saw their paths cross again after Shels lost to Qarabag in the Champions League and Croatian side HNK Rijeka in a Europa League qualifier.
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