CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFYING: Shelbourne will look to improve on their poor European record under Pat Fenlon tonight as they take on KR Reykjavik in the Icelandic capital (kick-off 9.0 p.m.).
Although they may have struggled on the Continent over the previous four campaigns, they come into this encounter on the back of 10 domestic games unbeaten. Fenlon obviously relishes the opportunity of guiding Ireland's finest in the Champions League but he refuses to get carried away.
"The goal at the start of every season is to win the league. Europe is not something I get hung up about. It's important, but the league is the priority.
"The record at Tolka Park during my time hasn't been great, we got two poor results, but before that it's been excellent. Hopefully we can get them back home on the back of a good result over here," he said from Reykjavik.
Yet, however much he plays it down, getting past the first preliminary round of Europe's premier competition is crucial to the eircom League's reputation.
Cork City's Intertoto exploits have been highly commendable, but a successful run by Shelbourne would do wonders for domestic football.
"We should be getting into the next round and improving our seeding," admits Fenlon "The goal has to be to bring all Irish clubs up in the seeding. There is plenty of experience in our squad, there are one or two who have never played in Europe, but there is enough."
The one problem is they are going into the encounter with a significant injury list. Defenders Kevin Doherty and Tony McCarthy are out, as is Jim Crawford and talented young striker Glen Fitzpatrick.
