Shels boss O'Brien comfortable despite change ahead of Euro clash with Linfield
Ten months ago, Shamrock Rovers dismantled Larne 4-1 at Windsor Park. It was a battle of the champions, but not in the Champions League.
Both had begun their journey in last year's supreme competition, proceeding to follow the path of middle to lower-sized country representatives by cascading into the new Conference guise.
Shelbourne's meeting with Linfield on Wednesday is in many ways a different proposition. Firstly, there'll be two legs in the first qualifying round of the Champions League compared to the one-off nature of the Conference League phase.
Regardless of the neighbourly aspect, this was billed as Damien Duff's debut on the European stage when the draw was made on June 17.
Five days later, he quit, paving the way for his assistant Joey O'Brien to take the reins.
He's only been one game at the helm as permanent boss, Friday's 3-1 over Cork City, before he leads Shels back into the Champions League for the first time in 17 years.
'To be honest, a lot has changed but a lot hasn't changed, really,' said former Ireland international O'Brien.
'It's still the same sort of thing; I'm coaching everyday, I'm out on the pitch everyday.
'I had a great relationship with the manager before, and I would have had a lot of say in a lot of meetings. I would have taken a lot of meetings.
'So in a way a lot has changed, but in a strange way nothing really has changed, if you know what I mean.
He's a full squad to choose from.
'I pick the team now, I suppose, but again I'm picking the team with the staff and previously I was helping the manager pick the team,' he added.
'I've obviously got a personal relationship with the manager; he's a friend of mine, so as I said before, I think we'll be friends forever.'
Healy is a regular visitor to the FAI Cup final, aware of the comparison between the two leagues.
'I like the league, I like the way it's played, I like the way it's advertised,' he said.
'You go to most grounds and there is a brilliant atmosphere, there's a brilliant crowd.
'It's something that everyone is trying to encourage in our league - to get people out, get the crowds coming to watch the games, and hopefully in time we can.'
The second leg takes place next Wednesday at Windsor Park.
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