TWO proved better than one for Shelbourne as Mipo Odubeko scored just moments after being given some support.
The striker had seen precious little of the ball – and not done a lot with it when he did.
And it would have been no surprise if he had been taken off when Joey O’Brien prepared to make three changes in the 56th minute.
But, instead, he was left on with Seán Boyd sent on to give him a dig out upfront in this Champions League qualifier.
Within a couple of minutes, Shels had scored the only goal with Boyd’s graft complemented by Odubeko’s guile as the Reds made it 11 home games unbeaten in Europe since losing to Olimpija Ljubljana in 2003.
Shels were more dominant than the final score suggested but they would have taken a 1-0 ahead of next Wednesday’s second leg in Windsor Park if you had offered it to them beforehand.
Speaking of which, Kieran Offord had the Blues’ best chance when Conor Kearns cannoned an attempted clearance off him late on after Dano Kelly’s back pass left him in all sorts of trouble.
Both sides were without the player with the most European success in their respective dressing rooms with former Dundalk teammates Sean Gannon and Chris Shields both suspended.
David Healy suggested that Shields might not have started for Linfield anyway but they could have done with him on the pitch instead of the stand as they were run ragged.
By half-time, the home side had accumulated nine corners to none, hit the woodwork through Evan Caffrey who had an even better chance saved and had a penalty awarded only for it to be overturned by VAR.
Linfield? The best they could muster before the break was a shot from distance by Ethan McGee following a stray pass by Kerr McInroy.
But the steward standing beside the sweet shop at the Drumcondra end of the ground was under more threat from his effort than keeper Kearns.
Healy had suggested his side had prepared as best as they could but it quickly became apparent that three-and-a-half-weeks’ training was inadequate to try to bridge the gap.
Presumably, the tempo with which Shels started was a considerable step-up from what they had experienced in either their 4-0 friendly win over Haverfordwest County or defeat on penalties to Dungannon Swifts in the Charity Shield.
Both managers might have been keen to stress that Shamrock Rovers’ cakewalk against Larne in the Europa Conference League in October was of no relevance to this tie.
Maybe but it soon became apparent that it was a reasonable guide of what to expect from this encounter. The only difference was that Shels lacked the cutting edge which had seen Rovers put Larne to the sword.
From their second corner, Caffrey’s header hit the top of the bar and the Belfast outfit struggled to properly clear their lines.
Eventually it came to Paddy Barrett who swung the ball in to Caffrey who was free after Euan East – who had been struck on the head by a Harry Wood shot shortly beforehand – slipped as he tried to track his run.
Even so, Caffrey could not steer his effort beyond Chris Johns who, after his initial save, was able to gather before anyone pounced on a rebound.
Linfield’s difficulties in trying to keep Shels at bay were underlined when Joshua Archer and Jamie Mulgrew were booked in quick succession.
Mulgrew, 39, was part of the Linfield squad which beat Shels in the Setanta Sports Cup final here two decades ago but he must have sensed a repeat was unlikely.
That seemed especially the case when Luis Godinho pointed to the spot when a JJ Lunney shot struck Ben Hall on the arm.
As Caffrey and Odubeko – who had barely touched the ball – engaged in a debate as to who should take the spot-kick, the decision was checked by VAR.
And, after the Portuguese official saw that Hall had turned away from the shot, he concluded he had erred with his original call.
It was a let-off but it was not clear if Linfield were capable of making the most of it.
Caffrey had another chance when he was put through. Johns came off his line and it looked as though the ball might bounce fortuitously for the attacker but Dane McCullough did well to get back and cover.
And, just before the break, Wood failed to really trouble Johns with a shot.
Early in the second half, O’Brien opted to make a triple change with Kelly, Boyd and Tyreke Wilson sent on just after Wood had skied a shot over the bar with Caffrey, Ali Coote and James Norris all making way.
Within minutes, Shels were ahead with Boyd playing a huge part. He held off one challenge and managed to lay the ball off to Odubeko before a second sent him crashing to the ground.
His strike partner did the rest, setting himself up before burying his shot into the bottom corner.
Boyd could have doubled Shels’ advantage later on but his first-time flick from Wilson’s cross was just off-target.
SUN STAR MAN
JJ Lunney (Shelbourne)
SHELBOURNE: Kearns 7; Caffrey 7 (Kelly 57, 5), Coyle 7, Barrett 7, Ledwidge 7, Norris 6; Lunney 8, McInroy 7; Wood 7 (Chapman 77, 5), Coote 5 (Boyd 57, 7); Odubeko 7 (Martin 87, 4).
LINFIELD: Johns 7; McGee 6, Orr 6, Hall 5, East 5, McCullough 6; Archer 5, Mulgrew 5 (McKee 72, 5); Fitzpatrick 6, Miller 5; Morrison 5 (Offord 72, 5).
REFEREE: L Godinho (Portugal) 6
