Shelbourne boss Joey O'Brien likes to describe European ties as "four halves of football". With two halves to go in the Conference League play-off against Linfield, his team are looking good thanks to a rip-roaring 3-1 win at Tolka Park on Thursday night.

However O'Brien is taking nothing for granted ahead of next week's trip to Windsor Park.

"We have an advantage going up there like the last time, but it's still all to play for," he said.

"Yous are probably bored listening to it, we're going up there to attack the game, to go and win the game. That's what it's all about. It's the same mentality that we had when we went over to play Rijeka and Qarabag. We're going to win.

"So that's going to be the same thing. We'll be going up there next week to win the game. It's a small advantage we have going up there next week. It's going to be a hell of a challenge. It’s one we’re looking forward to."

It's a familiar path for Shels, who beat Linfield over two legs in the first round of the Champions League qualifiers. After both sides slid down to the third-tier Conference League in UEFA's snakes-and-ladders qualification process, we arrived at this rematch.

Goals from Harry Wood, Mipo Odubeko and Evan Caffrey have the Reds in the driving seat, but Linfield played for over 70 minutes with ten men due to Matthew Fitzpatrick's controversial red card.

Indeed they would have levelled things on the night had Kieran Offord converted a penalty to make it 2-2. Wessel Speel saved it, and Cafrey nabbed that all-important third goal to delight a partisan Tolka crowd.

"At 2-0, we were sort of in control but probably the lads felt they were safe," admitted O'Brien.

"I think sometimes on the football pitch, when you think you're safe, that's when you're unsafe really, you just come off it a little bit. We were made to pay obviously, 2-1.

"And then they get the penalty. It's a massive moment by Wes to keep it 2-1. We made a couple of subs, we got back into it and it sort of settled us down. We had control of the game and it was great to get the third goal.

"I think we said it loads of times. European football, for me, since I was playing years ago, it was always just four halves of football. That was the message at half-time, one half done. Go on and win the next half. Now it's two halves done with still loads to play for."

Shels do have the luxury of a free weekend coming up. Last Sunday they looked leggy in defeat to St Pat's in the FAI Cup. With no league game until Sunday week, when Galway United come to Drumcondra, O'Brien has the chance to freshen up some bodies.

"It's great not having a game on the weekend to be honest," he said. "We have some sore bodies because with the European Games and the league and the cup, the way it's been, it's been relentless, really. It gives us a couple of days now to sort of get back on the training pitch.

"We haven't had much training over the last few weeks, really. It's just been a sort of rest, recovery, play. It gives us a nice build into that to actually get some good work on the training pitch. The lads are really pushing each other to try and get into the starting team."

This could be the start of a truly memorable week for Irish football.

Shamrock Rovers' brilliant 2-1 victory away to Santa Clara heightened the chances that two League of Ireland clubs will be playing in the league stage of the Conference League over the autumn/winter.

It's a tantalising prospect, with O'Brien adding: "It would be brilliant. I'm sure Stephen (Bradley) will say the exact same thing, that there’s still loads of football to be played. Only two halves done, two halves to go.

"They are massively experienced so they won't be getting carried away. It’s still a lot to play for."