SECOND ROUND IS IN THE 'BAG

Shels draw in Belfast sets up tie with Azerbaijan side & big payday

- BY MARK McCADDEN

SHELBOURNE last night took a big step towards the promised land of league phase football - but they didn’t make it easy on themselves.

A draw with 10-man Linfield at Windsor Park earned them a 2-1 aggregate win and a Champions League second qualifying round tie with Azerbaijani outfit Qarabag, with the home leg in Dublin next week.

It also took their guaranteed earnings from Europe this season to €1.7million - but now with Europa and Conference League safety nets, the prospect of an even bigger windfall is now on the cards.

Their progress came with plenty of nervy moments, however.

Shels seemed determined to give Linfield every opportunity to get back into the tie with a series of unforced errors that, had their opponents been more clinical, would have turned this tie on its head.

Both their goalkeepers - Conor Kearns and his first-half replacement Lorcan Healy - gifted shooting chances with passes direct to Blue-shirted forwards.

The two men between the posts were lucky that Matthew Fitzpatrick and Callum Morrison were both still shaking off the rust from the close season, as they passed up a pair of golden opportunities.