Early Lille goals end Shelbourne Euro saga
The eircom League champions had completed a dramatic comeback in the previous leg to level 2-2. But two first-half goals by Milenko Acimovic and Matt Moussilou at Lille's Metropole Arena in the return leg sealed the end of their presence in the competition.
Collins said: "I'm very disappointed. Nothing went wrong, really, we just fell on a very good Lille side, they deserved to win."
The two goals came very early in the match - in the 17th and 27th minutes - and Collins admitted it was a bad blow for his side.
"Any goal would have been a killer for us anyway, but the fact they came so early in the game made it far more difficult for us. But as a whole, Lille were really impressive as a group.
"However, all the supporters, the staff and the players can be proud of what we have achieved as a group."
Lille coach Claude Puel praised his side's ability to remain concentrated and prevent Shelbourne from fighting back. He said: "we managed the match well until the end; two weeks ago it seemed we felt superior to them and we displayed a very poor second half because of that. This time we stayed focused."
The substitution of Alan Byrne by Fitzpatrick in the 65th minute did not prove as telling as in the previous leg. Shelbourne found themselves under attack from the start, with Moussilou and Christophe Landrin firing in two shots in the first minutes.
Dave Rogers fouled Moussilou in the eighth minute, and the hosts were awarded a free-kick, which Acimovic fired high over keeper Steve Williams' crossbar. Shels avoided another setback seven minutes later when Acimovic combined well again with Moussilou, but the striker put his shot over the crossbar. Lille finally found the back of the net after 17 minutes, thanks to Acimovic, who converted a cross from Mathieu Bodmer from the right.
The hosts compounded Irish woes when Moussilou completed a fantastic run from midfield and fired a second goal past Williams in the 27th minute.
Four minutes later Moussilou failed to make the most of a good cross from the right, and Shelbourne were unable to respond effectively. Les Dogues were determined to protect their lead this time and never looked likely to be hauled back again.
Five minutes after the break, Moussilou again found himself in front of goal but he could not beat Williams, and Shelbourne's defence remained solid when Jamie Harris deflected a dangerous cross towards Moussilou in the 56th minute.
Moussilou missed a golden opportunity in the 63rd minute when he found himself in an ideal position to score a third from the right, with Williams off his line, but his shot bounced back off the right-hand post.
Fitzpatrick came on in the 65th minute, but could make no difference up front. Mathieu Chalme, on for Acimovic in the 83rd minute, almost got a third for Lille, but his shot was blocked by David Crawley.
Harris' 87th-minute header was as close as Shelbourne came to a goal, but his shot was saved by Tony Sylva.
: Sylva, Acimovic, Angbwa, Bodmer, Landrin, Makoun, Moussilou, Schmitz, Tafforeau, Tavlaridis, Audel.
: Williams, Heary, Crawley, Rogers, Harris, Crawford, Cahill, Stuart Byrne, Moore, Jason Byrne, Hoolahan.
: Emil Bozinovski (FYR Macedonia).
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