Irish champions Shelbourne’s first appearance beyond the qualifying rounds in European competition in over twenty years finished in a goalless draw with Swedish visitors BK Häcken in Dublin.
After the hosts had an early penalty claim waved away, Mikkel Rygaard came within inches from an opener on eight minutes after his low shot trickled just wide.
The Danish midfielder would then go on to sting the palms of Wessel Speel, but not before Shels had a goal correctly flagged for offside on the quarter-hour mark when Ademipo Odubeko turned home the loose ball in the box after Harry Wood’s shot was blocked.
Hacken had a purple patch midway through the half, but the closest they came was Silas Andersen’s deflected effort, which landed just wide.
The wind and rain was whipping around Shels’ temporary home for Europe, Tallaght Stadium, and Kerr McInroy tried to use the greasy pitch to his advantage with a skimming shot that Etrit Berisha did well to hold.
The Scottish midfielder had another chance just before the break that rippled the side netting as the teams went in goalless at the break.
Rygaard continued his one-man mission to open the scoring just three minutes after the restart but, despite the swirling wind, Speel held his curling effort.
Filip Helander was fortunate that his heavy touch in his own box was not pounced on by Odubeko soon after, while McInroy was similarly relieved when his interception from Danilo Al-Saed’s cutback rolled to the outside of the post.
Al-Saed was causing trouble again as the game entered the last quarter of an hour, and the Iraq international’s run was followed by a cutback that Isak Brusberg could only steer wide.
However, Jens Gustafsson’s side seemingly ran out of ideas as the clock wore down on a stormy night in the Irish capital.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Patrick Barrett (Shelbourne)