Windsor Park encounters between Shelfield and Linfield downplayed by Joey O'Brien prior to upcoming re-match
Shelbourne and Linfield are set to face off in the UEFA Conference League playoff, with the Irish side looking to secure a spot in the group stage.
The new manager of Shelbourne, Joey O'Brien, will lead the team in this crucial match. O'Brien has already made a significant impact, strengthening the squad between the 7:45 AM match against Linfield on September 7 and the 2nd matchday of the UEFA Conference League. Players such as Wessel Speel, Milan Mbeng, Sam Bone, Patrick Barrett, James Norris, Harry Wood, Jonathan Lunney, and Kameron Ledwidge have joined the team, giving Shelbourne the resources to dominate the midfield, particularly with Kerr McInroy.
Linfield, on the other hand, have significantly improved since their loss to Shelbourne in the off-season. The Northern Irish champions have been in fine form, with Kieran Offord scoring five goals in the three games for Linfield. However, in their previous meeting, Linfield parked the bus and forced Shelbourne to take them apart. Ben Hall scored a goal against Shelbourne in that match, but Mipo Odubeko claimed the only goal for the Irish side, leading to an unfurling of a large Tricolour by Shelbourne fans at Windsor Park on July 16th.
The match will take place at Tolka Park at 7.45pm and will be broadcast live on RTE_2. Unfortunately, Jack Henry-Francis, who joined Shelbourne from Arsenal, will be unavailable for the upcoming match. Ali Coote and Mipo Odubeko will provide the finishing touches for Shelbourne, while Shelbourne's performance in Europe has been excellent overall, giving them confidence going into this crucial match.
Shelbourne previously gave Azerbaijan's Qarabag a run for their money and knocked Linfield out of the Champions League in July. However, they suffered a setback when they beat Croatian champions Rijeka away, only to lose the tie. The team has made several transfers since their Champions League encounter, including Dutch goalkeeper Wessel Speel, Seán Moore from West Ham, and Seán Boyd returning from injury.
This promises to be an exciting match, with both teams eager to secure a place in the group stage of the UEFA Conference League. Tune in to RTE_2 on September 7 to catch all the action.
