Fresh from their 6-2 aggregate success over Glentoran in the first qualifying round of the Champions League, Eircom League Champions Shelbourne face an altogether more difficult challenge in the second qualifying round when former European Champions, Steaua Bucharest come to Tolka Park on Wednesday evening next.

In recent weeks, Shelbourne have begun to rediscover some of the form that deserted them earlier in the season and with the Jason Byrne/Glen Crowe combination beginning to find the net on a regular basis, will enter the game with renewed confidence.

The return of injured skipper Owen Heary to the back four has given Shelbourne a tremendous lift and manager Pat Fenlon has further bolstered his defensive resources with the signing of former Irish international full back Curtis Fleming who spent several successful seasons with both Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough.

Steaua Bucharest will present a formidable task in this first leg fixture and it is vital that Shelbourne remain solid at the back and maintain the ever so important clean sheet at their home venue. Motivation for the match is likely to have been enhanced by the critical comments made by the Steaua manager concerning Shelbourne’s style of play, in the aftermath of the Glentoran match.

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On Thursday evening, our UEFA Cup representatives, Cork City and Longford Town play the second leg of the their first qualifying round ties against FK Ekranes of Lithuania and Welsh side Carmarthen Town respectively. Both Eircom League sides hold a two goal advantage from the first leg and Cork City will be particularly fancied to complete the task at a packed Turners Cross. City have been in sparkling form throughout the season to date as evidenced by their seven point lead in the Premier Division and manager Damien Richardson will be looking for more of the same from his charges.

Longford Town will travel to West Wales with no little confidence that they too can successfully defend their first leg lead and progress to the next round of the competition. Longford are likely to adopt a cautious stance in the early stages of the match with the aim of frustrating their opponents and quieting the home supporters. If they can keep things tight in the opening half hour or so then they should be capable of celebrating an aggregate victory.