Champions League flight cancelled as fans find better deals

Shelbourne fans have plumped for cheaper deals with travel agents instead of flying with the budget airline Ryanair for the club’s Champions League showdown with Deportivo La Coruna, it emerged today.

Ryanair last night cancelled its special charter flight to Galicia in Spain next Tuesday because of "disappointing bookings".

Shelbourne Supporters' Club chairman Fintan Cassidy revealed: “There’s an all-inclusive package which had flights, transfers and match tickets.

“It worked out at €20 dearer (than the Ryanair flight) but people were happy to go for that.”

Ryanair had priced 189 seats on the return flight from Dublin Airport to Santiago de Compstela at €299 plus taxes.

However, supporters would have also had to pay for a 76-kilometre bus journey from the airport to Deportivo’s Municipal de Riazor stadium and buy their own match tickets.

Following its announcement, the airline said passengers who booked the flight would be given a full refund.

Mr Cassidy said the flight offer could have been handled better but that Ryanair had given Shelbourne "a very good deal" to fly its players to the match.

Up to 600 Shelbourne supporters are expected to travel for the second leg of the Champions League third qualifying round against Deportivo. Thousands of Irish people living in Spain are also expected to attend the game.

Mr Cassidy said: “Some of the younger lads are doing it on a shoestring, by train, plane, boat whatever.

“They’re going to be camping on the beach or somewhere like that.”

Shelbourne have been buoyed by the 0-0 draw against Deportivo in the first leg at Lansdowne Road last week and the 2-0 home win against Hajduk Split in the previous round.

If the Eircom League side overcome Deportivo, Shelbourne will become the first Irish club to qualify for the group stage of the Champions League.

Mr Cassidy said: “People are quite optimistic. It’s 11 men against 11 and the pressure is all on Deportivo now. And the longer it goes without a score, the home crowd could turn against Deportivo.