Healy 'proud' Of Linfield Effort In First-leg Loss

Linfield head David Healy felt his broadside "stood firm" successful bid to bring a single-goal shortage backmost to Windsor Park for adjacent week's 2nd limb of their Champions League first qualifying information necktie against Shelbourne.

The League of Ireland Premier Division champions got nan amended of things astatine Tolka Park courtesy of Mipo Odubeko's second-half strike.

Coming successful pinch only nan Charity Shield last against Dungannon Swifts past week arsenic preparation, and against a broadside 25 games into their home campaign, Healy was pleased pinch really his broadside did not let their hosts to move plentifulness of possession into a glut of chances.

While Evan Caffrey doubly went close, arsenic did substitute Sean Boyd, nan Blues defended resolutely for ample periods.

"It was ne'er going to beryllium easy coming down here, they are a very, very bully broadside pinch talented players," said Healy.

"It's disappointing, of course, but successful position of wherever we are, it's our first existent competitory game. Proud of nan effort and nan organisation of nan players, we stuck together.

"An excitable crowd down present astatine Tolka Park tin sometimes suck nan shot into nan nett and we stood patient and we sewage ourselves successful pinch a extremity deficit."

Linfield will person nan suspended Chris Shields backmost for adjacent week's 2nd leg, while Cammy Ballantyne should beryllium disposable too.

Although Healy felt that Shelbourne play "some of nan champion football" he has seen successful Europe arsenic Linfield manager, he believes his squad person "nothing to lose" backmost astatine Windsor Park connected Wednesday successful a crippled that will beryllium shown unrecorded connected BBC iPlayer and nan BBC Sport website.

"We'll beryllium amended for nan crippled adjacent week astatine Windsor," nan erstwhile Northern Ireland striker added.

"We'll quiet nan tank, we've sewage thing to fearfulness and thing to lose."