Highlights: Shelbourne v Linfield

Jonathan Bradley
BBC Sport NI Senior Journalist

Shelbourne got the better of Linfield in the first leg of their Champions League first qualifying round tie at Tolka Park with Mipo Odubeko's second-half strike the only goal of the game.

The Northern Ireland champions had to soak up plenty of pressure to ensure they would return to Belfast for next week's second leg facing only a one-goal deficit.

In what was their first competitive game of the 2025-26 season, David Healy's side appeared well drilled and defended strongly throughout, although Evan Caffrey had two good chances in the first half.

The hosts in Dublin also had a penalty award overturned by the video assistant referee (VAR) in the first half, but Odubeko's well-taken finish in the 58th minute ultimately proved to be the difference.

Mipo OdubekoInpho

Mipo Odubeko's goal proved the difference between Shelbourne and Linfield

Linfield show defensive grit in goalless first half

The game at Tolka Park provided a second clash between the champions of the Irish Premiership and League of Ireland Premier Division in as many seasons after Shamrock Rovers thumped Larne 4-1 in last year's Uefa Conference League.

And while the Republic of Ireland side again asserted their dominance in the first half of this one, Linfield held firm through the opening 45 minutes despite a few scares.

Caffrey looked lively throughout for Shelbourne and came closest to opening the scoring in the early exchanges when he got on to the end of a near-post corner only to see his flicked header come back off the crossbar.

The same player then drew a brilliant save from Linfield keeper Chris Johns from point-blank range after defender Euan East had slipped in the build-up.

As Shelbourne piled on the pressure, they thought they would have the opportunity to take the lead from the penalty spot when Ben Hall was adjudged to have handled Jonathan Lunney's effort from the edge of the box, but the decision was overturned by VAR.

While admirably organised without the ball, in the absence of playmaker Joel Cooper who joined Coleraine over the summer, Linfield offered little attacking threat, although they did have a few chances of their own in the goalless first half.

First Ethan McGee drove an effort wide after latching onto a loose pass across the box before, in the final minutes before the break, Callumn Morrison's looping effort failed to catch out Conor Kearns in the Shelbourne goal.

Chris Johns produces a fine save to deny Evan CaffreyInpho

Chris Johns produced one fine save to deny Evan Caffrey

Shels up ante with second-half substitutes

Shelbourne were playing their first Champions League fixture since 2005 and, while their title-winning manager Damien Duff departed between the draw and this first leg, they came into this one 25 games into their domestic season.

New manager Joey O'Brien got his first win against Cork City on Friday night and, in comparison to Linfield who had only last week's Charity Shield final under their belts, their increased match sharpness was evident.

Mipo Odubeko is one player who has been enjoying life under former West Ham and Bolton defender O'Brien and the striker opened the scoring with his third goal in as many games.

Thirteen minutes into the second half, he was put through by substitute strike partner Sean Boyd, took a touch to get the ball out of his feet and fired into the far corner.

Boyd, whose assist came only two minutes after his introduction as part of a triple sub, proved to be a lively replacement as he flashed a header across goal before firing Tyreke Wilson's cross over the top.

Kieran Offord came closest to delivering a Linfield equaliser in the closing minutes when he charged down Conor Kearns attempted clearance only to see the ball deflect narrowly wide.

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