07-07-2025
Shels striker wants to prove the doubters wrong again in Champions League return
Sean Boyd says Shelbourne can prove the doubters wrong again by going on a big European adventure.
The Reds have plenty of players with limited experience of continental action, while this year has been a turbulent one for the Tolka Park side.
Damien Duff's recent departure, on the back of poor league form, has led to Joey O'Brien stepping into his first senior managerial role.
As far as build-ups to big Champions League games go, things could have been a lot smoother for the League of Ireland title holders.
However, Boyd reckons they can channel the same energy this Wednesday against Linfield that led Shels to Premier Division glory last season.
'The lads got the league over the line last year, and that will stand to people,' said the striker.
'There were doubters and it was the players that stood up. That's something we had and the players can play off.
'It's something to look forward to. We just can't wait to get going, it's obviously a huge game.'
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Boyd and his teammates aren't complete novices when it comes to Europe - they made it through a round last year in the Europa Conference League. After beating St Joseph's of Gibraltar, they went out to Swiss side FC Zurich.
And in Sean Gannon and Paddy Barrett, they have a couple of players with group stage experience - Barrett with Dundalk, and Gannon with the Lilywhites and Shamrock Rovers.
'Experience is a huge thing. I'm sure the Zurich game will stand to us,' said Boyd.
'We probably went into that game thinking, I don't know, maybe we approached it the wrong way and the staff and players will realise that, and know the importance of that.
'We went down after 60 seconds or whatever over there, so it made it difficult.
'We drew 0-0 at home but they were 3-0 up from the first leg and maybe took the foot off the gas, but I think if we brought them back to Tolka I think we could have had a rattle off them.
'But the experience is very important. Ganno, Pat, lads who are really experienced.
'Paddy done all the Dundalk stuff, Ganno has been had it a few times, he's second after Finner in appearances. He has heaps of it.'
Boyd had previously played in Europe during his spell at Shamrock Rovers.
He featured against Finnish side RoPS Rovaniemi - under Pat Fenlon in the first-leg and Stephen Bradley in the second.
'Pat played me against Rovanemi, we lost, and then Bradser took over. I played in that,' he said. 'I think we had a chance to go through, we gave away a terrible goal.
'Apart from that, I played in the Mlada Boleslav game, Burkey (Graham Burke) scored (at home), I came on in the away game.'
Boyd also thought he'd scored his first European goal in the Boleslav game, but his effort was controversially chalked off.
So he is eager to break his duck when the Reds return to Champions League action for the first time in 20 years.
'I scored in that Mlada Boleslav game away. But the referee gave a free kick, I had a header at the back post and scored, but the referee gave a free kick out. I was fuming,' he said.
'It would be nice, I have to say it's disappointing tonight it's probably been a while since I scored.
'It's probably been the longest I've gone without scoring for Shels, so hopefully on Wednesday one can come.'
Boyd acknowledged that Shels would need to be better against Linfield than last Friday's performance in the 3-1 win against 10-man Cork City.
'I would think defending set-pieces will need to be better, and we'll ask for more from players on the ball,' he said.
'But I thought we performed well, I thought we performed well since Joey has taken over.
'I thought it was the story of our season, giving away sloppy goals or giving away sloppy chances, not punishing teams when we have so much possession, so many chances.
'But I think you know it's going to be a great game, and it's going to be hard, and the lads are going to be up for it, and we're all really looking forward to it.'
Shels can hit the ground running on Wednesday, as they are 25 games into their season, whereas Linfield have played just one friendly and a Shield Final against Dungannon Swifts.
Boyd is eager not to play up that factor. When asked if being in mid-season rather than pre-season would be an advantage, he replied: 'No, I don't think so.
'We played (St Joseph's of) Gibraltar, weren't they just starting pre-season, that was a tough game and it was probably a game that we were expected to win.
'But that was tough, they worked hard, they were fit. Didn't the Magpies knock out Derry? Same thing.
'It might come into it a small bit but I don't know, the big occasions, people tend to get themselves going and be able to crack on for the full game.'
