Williams keen for more Euro success

Shelbourne goalkeeper Steve Williams has sampled the atmosphere of a European shock in the past and wants to experience the same feeling with Shelbourne.

The eircom League outfit travel to Spain for tomorrow’s Champions League final qualifying round second leg after earning a goalless draw at home.

Shelbourne are just 90 minutes away from becoming the first ever Irish side to reach the group stages but know it will be a difficult task as they prepare to face Spanish giants Deportivo La Coruna.

Having drawn 0-0 at Lansdowne Road in the first leg, Shelbourne need just a score draw to progress and even a defeat would not end Shels’ European dreams.

Should they lose to Deportivo Shelbourne would fall back on a place in the third round draw of the UEFA Cup, just one round away from the group stages.

But the right result in Spain will be difficult as the Spanish side have lost just once in 13 home Champions League clashes – last season’s semi-final defeat to eventual winners Porto.

Among those to have visited the Riazor and left with their tails between their legs were Manchester United, Juventus and AC Milan.

Shelbourne manager Pat Fenlon admitted that for Shelbourne to avoid joining those top sides would involve an upset of mammoth proportions.

If Shelbourne do pull it off, goalkeeper Steve Williams will at least have something to draw on his memory bank.

He made his debut for Cardiff City in the European Cup Winner’s Cup as a 19-year-old, so European matches hold a special place for Williams.

He said: “I was man of the match when Cardiff played Standard Liege. European games are always special. We’ve had a great run and now it comes down to this 90 minutes.

“If we to do it, I think every player has to be on top of his game.”

Williams admitted that he expects to be very busy during the match.

“I think Deportivo thought they could come here and score one and defend but we defended very well,” he said.

“I’d expect they will come at us from the first minute to the 90th minute.

“I wasn’t very busy in the home game. We expect a tough game out there. We’ve done well to get here and we’ll give it our best shot.”

Shelbourne boss Fenlon is likely to keep the same XI that drew in Dublin a fortnight ago after defender Jamie Harris recovered from a throat infection.

Fenlon may be tempted to select Cameroon international Joseph Ndo ahead of Glen Fitzpatrick after the midfielder proved his fitness by competing two domestic matches since the first leg.