Healy laments 'worst performance against Shels'

Shelbourne's Milan Mbeng in action against Linfield's Chris Shields during Thursday's second leg at Windsor Park

Linfield manager David Healy lamented his side's "worst performance out of the four games" against Shelbourne as his side exited the Uefa Conference League at the play-off stage.

The Irish Premiership champions lost 2-1 on aggregate to the League of Ireland holders in their Champions League first round qualifier in July and a 2-0 second-leg defeat at Windsor Park on Thursday night saw them go down 5-1 on aggregate to the Dublin side in Europe's third tier competition.

First-half goals from Harry Wood and Ali Coote sealed Linfield's fate in Belfast.

"Disappointing. I talked before the game about how important it was that we got the first goal. We didn't look like that tonight," Healy told BBC Sport NI after the game.

"More frustrating is the manner that we conceded the [first] goal. We were aware of Harry Wood's movement. It's not as if we were going into the game blind. We were fully aware of his capabilities, his runs.

"You can probably look at it from a Shelbourne point of view and say it was a wonderful pass and a wonderful finish, which it probably was, but from our point of view we were well aware of that run and ball.

"We had seen it in the three games previously and we didn't deal with it tonight. Tonight was our worst performance out of the four games that we played but it was at the most crucial point. That's frustrating."

Healy added that despite the tie being over as a contest by half-time he was pleased with how his players responded in the second period.

"The most important thing for me tonight is that we didn't fall apart in the second half.

"Going forward we got some of the younger players some more European experience which will benefit them long term.

"We all feel disappointed that we haven't grasped the opportunity but we'll respond in a positive manner like we always do and we'll try and put our best foot forward in the cup competitions and most importantly, our bread and butter, in our domestic league, where we feel we are more than a match for anyone."