Crystal Palace’s inaugural European adventure continues with a trip to the Republic of Ireland to face Shelbourne in the UEFA Conference League on Thursday, 11th December (20:00 GMT).
Shelbourne’s European campaign has been anything but linear. After navigating a challenging qualifying route and becoming just the second Irish club to reach a UEFA group stage, Joey O’Brien’s side have firmly earned their place in the Conference League.
Yet they now sit 34th of the 36 teams in the overall Conference League standings – narrowly ahead of Shamrock Rovers, with both Irish clubs level on a single point.
Read a deep dive into Thursday’s opponents below.
Shelbourne have punched their ticket to the UEFA Conference League after an eventful – and at times outstanding – European summer.
Their journey began in the Champions League first qualifying round, where they edged past domestic rivals Linfield 2–1 on aggregate. A crucial red card for the hosts in the return leg at Windsor Park swung the momentum Shels’ way and allowed them to take command of the tie.
The second qualifying round proved a step too far, however, as Shelbourne fell to Qarabag and dropped into the Conference League qualifiers to face Rijeka. A spirited away victory put them firmly in contention, but the tie slipped away on home soil. Even so, the experience proved invaluable heading towards the play-offs.
There, fate paired them with Linfield once again – and this time the Reds left no doubt. A commanding 2–0 win in the second leg sealed a 5–1 aggregate triumph and booked Shelbourne’s place in a European group stage for the first time in their history. They join Shamrock Rovers as just the second Irish club ever to reach this stage.
The achievement comes at a crucial moment. After winning the 2024 League of Ireland title, Shelbourne entered the 2025/26 campaign with high expectations, but a third-place finish – seven points behind champions Shamrock Rovers – means European qualification next season is not guaranteed.
In Ireland’s system, first place earns a Champions League berth, second leads to the Europa League, and third and fourth into the Conference League qualifying rounds.
For O’Brien’s side, then, this European adventure represents both opportunity and statement – and they seized it emphatically. But the group stage itself has offered a harsh introduction to life at this level.
Shelbourne remain winless and goalless after four matches. A gritty opening-night 0–0 draw with Häcken offered early promise, but consecutive defeats to Shkëndija, Drita and AZ Alkmaar have since stalled their momentum.
They now sit 34th of the 36 teams in the overall Conference League standings – narrowly above Shamrock Rovers, with both Irish sides level on a single point.
Shelbourne have built up a rich continental history, playing 69 matches across a range of European competitions – from the European Cup Winners’ Cup and Inter-Cities Fairs Cup to the UEFA Cup and Intertoto Cup, and, in more recent years, the Champions League and Europa League.
Crucially, the vast majority of these appearances came in qualifying rounds, with Shels spending almost all of their European history navigating preliminary and early-stage ties rather than the main tournament phases.
Despite this long record, the Reds have never faced an English club in European competition.
Their closest encounters with teams from across the water have instead come against Scottish opposition. Shelbourne have met Kilmarnock and Rangers in the Cup Winners’ Cup, as well as Rangers again in both the UEFA Cup preliminary round and first qualifying round in the early 1960s.
For Palace supporters seeking a familiar face in the Shelbourne setup, the most recognisable figure won’t be on the pitch but in the technical area.
Manager Joey O’Brien forged a distinguished career in England, spending more than a decade in the Premier League and Championship with Bolton Wanderers and West Ham United.
A product of Bolton’s academy, O’Brien made his Premier League debut in 2005 at Goodison Park – replacing none other than Fernando Hierro.
He soon became a versatile and dependable option for Sam Allardyce, shifting between midfield and right-back and earning praise as a “dominant force at right-back in the Premiership.” His early years featured a standout loan spell with Sheffield Wednesday and European appearances for Bolton in the UEFA Cup.
Though injuries repeatedly interrupted his progress, O’Brien continually battled back. His career enjoyed a revival after joining West Ham in 2011 – he played a key role in their promotion push, scored in the Premier League, and featured regularly during the 2012–13 campaign, including outings against Chelsea, Stoke and Norwich.
He remained with the Hammers until 2016, departing with over 100 appearances in claret and blue.
Among Shelbourne’s current squad, a handful of English players – Harry Wood, Ellis Chapman and James Norris – may strike a chord with Premier League followers, though none made senior breakthroughs at that level.
Another name with English-football pedigree is Mipo Odubeko. The Tallaght-born striker began at Manchester City before crossing to Manchester United, later joining West Ham, who beat strong competition for his signature. Highly rated for his pace and power, he went on to have loan spells at Huddersfield Town, Doncaster Rovers and Port Vale.
In the end, though, O’Brien stands out as the true point of recognition – a former Premier League defender now guiding Shelbourne as they step onto the European stage.
Shelbourne v Crystal Palace
