SOCCER/UEFA Champions League/third qualifying round, second leg: While paying tribute to Pat Fenlon in the team's seafront hotel in La Coruna on Sunday a Shelbourne official focused not on the young manager's achievement in getting his side to this stage of a major European competition but rather on the Dubliner's manifest determination their Champions League adventure need not end this evening at the Riazor Stadium.
Given the dispirited resignation with which this and other Irish clubs have limped out of international competitions on so many occasions down the years Fenlon's attitude is refreshing. And it is based, the manager insists, on a sound assessment of the team's prospects rather than the sort of belief in miracles that draws pilgrims by the thousand to the nearby city of Santiago de Compostela.
"We're realistic enough to know that Deportivo are the better team," Fenlon said yesterday. "But we've come here with a solid game plan that has served us well in the previous rounds and we have a significant advantage in that we're midway through our season while they've only had one competitive game since the summer break.
"That's not to say we're going to win but we're certainly not here to make up the numbers. We have to defend well and do some things better than we have done in our previous European games but I rate this group of players very highly and if they play the way I know they can then, over 90 minutes of football, anything is possible."
Many rather humiliating defeats have been preceded by just this sort of talk from Irish coaches in recent times but Shelbourne have demonstrated the quality and composure in their games against KR of Iceland and Hajduk Split which suggests capitulation is highly unlikely.
An away goal, though, still seems a tall order against a team that conceded just one at home in the competition last season on their way to the semi-finals.
If Shelbourne are to have any chance then one area where Fenlon acknowledges his side have to improve is in attack. The Dubliners will almost certainly stick to the tactical plan employed in the games against Split which means five in midfield and just one striker. In Split, Glen Fitzpatrick occupied that lone striker's role and did well but in the two European games since he has struggled to cope with the demands of his task at the higher level.
His poor first touch has resulted in a great deal of possession being lost as Shelbourne try to play their way out of defence, and he has posed little threat around goal.
Fenlon would say nothing yesterday of his team selection but he hinted there would some changes and Fitzpatrick seems the most likely victim with Jason Byrne set to replace him up front.
Cameroon international Joseph Ndo is set for a start on the right flank. The African will further strengthen a solid midfield in which Alan Moore and Wes Hoolahan have been outstanding. Also inspirational has been the team's right back and skipper, Owen Heary, who has never looked intimidated by the calibre of opponent he has come up against in recent weeks.
Jamie Harris also has been impressive but there is slightly more cause for concern over the defending of David Crawley, whose comparative lack of pace could prove a problem as he strives to cope with Spanish international Victor Sanchez, as well as the passing of Dave Rogers who is sometimes the victim of a little over-confidence while on the ball.
Deportivo are set to start once again without either Fran or Diego Tristan, both of whom are carrying injuries. Brazilian international Mauro Silva, however, will be available leaving coach Javier Irureta free to select the same 11 players that started the game in Dublin two weeks ago.
The team's form in pre-season has been good with just one defeat in 13 games and goals in every match bar the one at Lansdowne Road. Shelbourne's first task, Fenlon confirmed yesterday, will be to keep their hosts scoreless and if they can manage that then it is likely to be the second half before the Dubliners start to make any sort of concerted effort to make a breakthrough.
The visitors may draw some encouragement from the fact Deportivo's last two games have finished 1-1, a scoreline that would suit the Irish champions nicely. A third score draw, indeed, would make this evening a historic night for Irish football. Fenlon believes it's possible. The 500 supporters that will cheer his side may not be confident but they are hoping he's right.
PROBABLE TEAMS
SHELBOURNE: Williams; Heary, Harris, Rogers, Crawley; S Byrne; Ndo, Hoolahan, Moore, Cahill; J Byrne.
DEPORTIVO: Molina; M Pablo, Cesar, Andrade, Romero; Victor, Sergio, Mauro, Luque; Valeron, Pandiani.
