Shelbourne 4 Glentoran 1 (Agg: 6-2):Shelbourne secured a Champions League meeting with Romanian kingpins Steaua Bucharest following this comprehensive disposal of Irish League champions Glentoran.
Despite a first-half lull when Glentoran briefly threatened to rewrite the script, the hosts were never troubled and, indeed, strangled their opponents into submission with a scintillating display.
The level of performance will please manager Pat Fenlon as his side has endured some indifferent displays in both league and cup encounters this season. But, to a man, his team rediscovered the kind of form that brought them from one corner of Europe to the next last season. Expectations are high for a repeat run, but Fenlon will ensure his players remain grounded ahead of Wednesday's home leg.
From the outset, Shelbourne were keen to kill off the contest and they bustled around the Glentoran box in the opening minutes. Lively both on and off the ball, Fenlon's men dictated both pace and direction in the early stages.
Jason Byrne, the two-goal hero at the Oval last week, signalled his side's intent when blazing over after three minutes following good work in the box from his striker partner Glen Crowe. That pressure proved relentless and Wes Hoolahan went close soon after but Elliott Morris wasn't troubled by the rising shot.
Glentoran struggled to obtain a foothold and Shelbourne made hay by teasing their opponents. Indeed, having threatened so often, it was no surprise when the breakthrough came on 13 minutes. Amid some chaotic defending, captain Owen Heary headed David Crawley's teasing free past Morris at the back post.
But far from spur Shelbourne onto better things the goal, in fact, gifted the visitors a reprieve. Driven by midfielders Tommy McCallion and Darren Lockhart, Glentoran ventured deep time and again, probing a back four that had seen little or nothing of the ball in the opening quarter.
Indeed, that resurgence caught Shelbourne off guard, so much so that Glentoran equalised eight minutes after Heary's initial strike.
Winger Peter McCann started and finished a move which left Richie Baker and Dean Delaney red faced. McCann played a one-two with Michael Halliday in the Shelbourne box but Baker's attempted interception to his goalkeeper cannoned off Halliday which in turn fell to McCann and he tucked into a empty net from close range.
Although that equaliser sent the 1,500 travelling fans wild, it failed to give Glentoran the spark required to ignite the tie. And worryingly for those fans, their players, all-too-easily, relinquished the brief but telling hold they enjoyed over their hosts.
Hoolahan, so often the catalyst behind Shelbourne's best work, excelled in midfield thereafter and kick-started the recovery mission by forcing Morris to tip away his close range header with one hand. Ball after ball subsequently rained in on the Glentoran goal and from one such attack Shelbourne edged back in front.
Glen Crowe, who linked superbly with Jason Bryne all night, started the move which led to Byrne netting from the penalty spot. The striker played in Stuart Byrne who in turn blasted goalwards from the edge of the area. His shot, though, cannoned off Paul Leeman's arm and the centre-back was dismissed on a second yellow. Jason Byrne sent Morris the wrong way from the resulting spot kick.
Shelbourne's determination and concentration was faultless after the break and within 12 minutes of the restart Glen Crowe was celebrating his eight goal in European competition. Heary, who enjoyed free run of the right flank for the duration, crossed for Crowe who, with time on his side, volleyed home spectacularly from 14 yards, leaving Morris stranded.
Shelbourne then secured their ticket when Jason Byrne powerfully headed home another choice Heary cross from the right with 19 minutes remaining. By this stage, Glentoran had introduced striker Stephen Parkhouse for a late effort, but despite their brief first half spell, the visitors had little to offer against a Shelbourne side who host Steaua Bucharest here next Wednesday.
Shelbourne:Delaney; Heary, Hawkins, Rogers, Crawley; Baker, S Byrne; Hoolahan, Cahill; J Byrne, Crowe. Booked: Hawkins (55). Cahill (32), Crawford (76). Subs: Crawford for Hoolahan (72), Fitzpatrick for Crowe (83), O'Neill for J Byrne (83).
Glentoran:Morris; Nixon, Leeman, Walker, Holmes; Ward, Lockhart, McCallion, McCann; Morgan, Halliday. Booked: Leeman (13), Nixon (42). Sent off: Leeman (31) Subs: Keegan for McCann (half-time), Parkhouse for Ward (66), Melaugh for Keegan.
Referee:P Sippel (Germany)