GANNON BALL RUN

Shels might be a young team but veteran ace Sean is about to play his 58th game in European football

- BY MARK MCCADDEN

ON ONE hand, it's a relatively inexperienced Shelbourne dressing room when it comes to big nights in Europe.

On the other hand, Sean Gannon is back from suspension and is ready to add a fresh chapter to a most remarkable Irish footballing tale.

The 33-year-old is expected to get the nod in tonight's Champions League second-leg against Linfield, and make his 58th appearance in continental competition.

And 16 of those have come in the group stages - a level that Shels are desperate to reach this year.

Victory over Linfield would inch that dream closer to reality, as it would earn them a second qualifying round spot in the Champions League, and shots at both the Europa League and Conference League.

Defeat and they would be dumped straight into the Conference League second round - a much steeper climb to the league phase.

From his European debut in the Europa League against Luxembourg side Jeunesse Esch 11 years ago, Gannon has come a long way.

There have been 15 wins, 14 draws and 28 defeats, and those three cracks at the coveted group stages.

Famous victories have come with Dundalk away to Hajduk Split (2014), BATE Borisov (2016), and that historic first ever group stage win against Maccabi Tel Aviv in Tallaght.