Amer Gojak celebrates at the final whistle
Ante Orec scored late on to break Shelbourne hearts at Tolka Park in the Uefa Europa League third qualifying round as Rijeka won 3-1 on the night and 4-3 on aggregate.
Trailing 2-1 from the first leg, the Croatian side were much improved with Toni Fruk levelling the tie with a superb strike in the first half.
Tiago Dantas struck in the second period to edge them ahead overall. Shelbourne pulled a goal back to level the tie from a Mipo Odubeko penalty, only for Orec to have the final word.
Shelbourne now drop into a final playoff for a place in the Conference League group stage against either Linfield or Vikingur who play their second leg at Windsor Park on Thursday with the Faroese side holding a 2-1 advantage.
Fruk is the early threat for Rijeka
Toni Fruk celebrates scoring the opening goal
The Dublin club had an early penalty appeal turned away when Ali Coote went down under the challenge of Martin Zlomislic, but the Rijeka goalkeeper had got enough of the ball.
Fruk was a threat and his shot from a free-kick was blocked with the rebound drilled wide, while Ante Majstorovic struck wide from close range.
Shelbourne had dealt with the early pressure but there was nothing they could do on 32 minutes as a nice piece of interplay teed-up Fruk to volley past Speel from the edge of the box.
Shelbourne could have replied immediately but McInroy's strike on goal was blocked with Coote's follow up off target, yet the visitors finished the opening half in the ascendency.
Rijeka applied the early pressure in the second period but were almost caught out when a long ball down to substitute John Martin unlocked the defence and he played in Mipo who fired wide.
However, Rijeka remained a threat and Dantas put them ahead in the tie in the 72nd minute with a stunning strike from distance.
Shelbourne were given a lifeline with five to go when John Martin was tugged back in the box and after consulting VAR, the penalty was awarded which Mipo tucked away to level the tie.
However, the Dubliners' joy was short lived as Orec was given too much time to turn inside the box and steer home what proved to be the winner.
