UEFA Europa Conference League: Matchday 5 of 6
Shelbourne v Crystal Palace (Thursday, 8pm)
With just a point on the board, Europa Conference League progression looks rather ambitious for Joey O’Brien’s Shelbourne.
Last time up, the focus was all on one Troy Parrott. Ironically the Irish striker is still yet to hit the target in the competition this season, but for AZ Alkmaar it mattered little, as Mees De Wit and Isak Jensen hit the target in The Netherlands.
Shels’ midfielder Mark Coyle cut a frustrated figure after that affair, with the solitary point earned against BK Hacken back in October:
“We’re sort of fed up talking about hard luck stories. It’s obviously disappointing but we have to look forward to two weeks’ time.”
So two games remain, and next in store is Crystal Palace. Manager Joey O’Brien addressed the media this week, and was in jovial form recounting an anecdote of his playing days with West Ham against fellow London side Palace.
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The former Republic of Ireland defender made over 100 appearances in the Premier League, playing for Bolton and The Hammers:
“I was at fault for a goal one time and the manager nearly had a heart attack at half-time, so hopefully that doesn’t happen to me tomorrow night.
“When I was over there playing against them and stuff like that, they obviously weren’t at the heights that they’re at now, so it just shows you what’s possible for a football team.”
The goalscorer on that fateful day, one of just seven in 60 appearances for The Eagles, has since retired. And it seems the days of relying on the likes of Marouane Chamakh and scraping for Premier League survival have passed for Palace, as O’Brien alluded to.
They have been in the Premier League since a 39-year-old Kevin Phillips scored a penalty to deny Watford in the 2012/13 Championship play-off final.
Currently sitting fourth in the English top flight, they have lost just two of their last eight in all competitions, once against Manchester United and once a more disappointing away European defeat to French outfit Strasbourg a fortnight ago.
That said, Palace remain favourites to win this competition, with the Ligue 1 side second most likely candidates and Fiorentina third according to the bookmakers.
After their visit to a sold out Tallaght Stadium, Oliver Glasner’s men face tricky fixtures against Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham in their next five.
Shelbourne meanwhile last tasted a home victory in mid October, with the Irish domestic season having wrapped up on October 26.
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But the home side’s manager is stressing to his side not to be daunted by the side from across the Irish Sea:
“It’s about us. I keep on saying that because that’s the message I’ve been saying to the lads. Sometimes you can think too far about things and think of who you’re playing against and where they’ve come from.
“But for me, that doesn’t work. It’s about yourself, being proud of your own journey, how you’ve got here, and the incredible stories to get to this game.
“They’ll never hear me speak about fear in football. For me, as I said, pressure in football and stuff like that, it’s not pressure, it’s an absolute privilege to be in this situation.”
Derry City v Shamrock Rovers at the Brandywell. (MARGARET MCLAUGHLIN COPYRIGHT / )
Breidablik v Shamrock Rovers (Thursday, 5:45pm)
In 2023, Breidablik put paid to Shamrock Rovers’ chances of qualifying for the Champions League, as a 2-1 defeat in Kopavogsvoellur spelled a 3-1 defeat on aggregate and a Rovers side that never really played to their potential across the tie.
In 2025, the Icelandic outfit are one of just six UEFA Europa Conference League sides yet to taste victory in four matches in 2024/25. Unfortunately for Rovers, they are another, but anything but victory this time around will perhaps bring more doom and gloom than two years ago.
Their final two fixtures are a little more appealing than that of compatriots Shelbourne, and should they beat Breidablik, they will head into a final group match against Maltese champions Hamrun Spartans seeking another three points and potential progression.
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But much hard work is to be done before the League of Ireland champions can look that far down the line in seeking to emulate their achievement of their 2024/25 European campaign.
Stephen Bradley may well be able to call on Enda Stevens, with the Sheffield United stalwart and former Republic of Ireland international re-signing for The Hoops a matter of weeks ago, when he stated:
“It was a family decision. We decided as a family we were always going to move home. But there’s only one place you want to be. The two Stephens, the manager and Stephen McPhail, helped with the whole process.
“I had a great time here. It was unbelievable. My two years here were one of my most successful times and one of the happiest I’ve ever been. And it helped me along the way in England.
“Being able to come back, you just see how good a place this is. The lads have been brilliant and so successful. I just want to be part of that.”
Breidablik finished fourth in the 2025 Icelandic top flight, one which like the Airtricity Premier Division is played during the summer months.
