Shels to tackle Depo at Lansdowne

Shelbourne are hoping to spring one of the biggest surprises in soccer history next week when the they Spanish giants Deportivo La Coruna in the final qualifying round of the Champions League.

Shelbourne beat Croatian champions Hajduk Split 2-0 last night in front of a 10,000 capacity crowd at Tolka Park in Dublin, but will take on the Spaniards at the larger home of Irish rugby, Lansdowne Road.

Club chairman Finbarr Flood said manager Pat Fenlon would prefer to play next Wednesday’s first leg in the intimidating atmosphere of Tolka Park, where the tighter pitch will give the Spanish team less room to play.

But he said the club needed the larger ground to satisfy the demand for tickets and to capitalise on the money-spinning tie.

Shelbourne, which had not won a European match at home since 1993, will earn around €750,000 in tickets sales, television income and sponsorship from the match against Deportivo.

Mr Flood said the victory over Hajduk Split had been the greatest night in the club’s history.

“It was something we’ll savour forever. It probably was the best display of football I’ve ever seen from a Shelbourne football team,” he said.

At the start of the game, a group of die-hard Shelbourne supporters, known as the Briogáid Dearg, moved an enormous “Believe” banner around the stadium.

“The fans believed and the team believed and it literally came true,” said Shelbourne Supporters' Club chairman Fintan Cassidy.

A former Liverpool player, Dave Rogers volleyed home for Shelbourne from 28 yards with 12 minutes remaining in the match. The team added another in injury time to become the first Irish club to reach the third qualifying round of the Champions League.

Mr Cassidy said: “It was one of the greatest achievements in Irish football. Not only did they win but the style of the victory made it all the sweeter.”

Deportivo La Coruna is likely to be without star striker Diego Tristan for the match, after the 28-year-old bruised a bone in his leg.

“We put up such a good performance last night that we mightn’t beat them but we’ll certainly give a very good account of ourselves,” said Mr Cassidy.

Even if Shelbourne is eliminated, the club will go into the first round of the UEFA Cup with the prospect of another big pay-day.

Shelbourne’s success is a major boost for the eircom League, which has traditionally seen its best young players travel abroad to join English clubs.

League marketing manager Aidan Dunne said the increased investment by clubs like Shelbourne had paid dividends.

“In recent years, the quality of Irish soccer has been improving. There was nothing perverse about this result. Shelbourne played the Croatian side off the pitch,” he said.