Shelbourne 2-2 Ajax (3-5 agg.)
Eoin Harrington reporting from Tolka Park
Shelbourne bowed out of the Conference League on Thursday evening despite claiming one of the most famous results in their history with a 2-2 draw against Ajax in Drumcondra.
Just over 24 hours after Manchester United and Leeds United played out a 1-1 draw in front of 82,300 supporters at Croke Park, Drumcondra’s more traditional footballing venue was packed out for the visit of another European giant.
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The confines were tighter, the noise was louder, and the football on show was far more thrilling than the product served up in GAA HQ, as Shelbourne earned a valiant draw against one of the great teams in European football.
Despite the disappointment of the result, Shels manager John Russell told Balls.ie post-match, that he was immensely proud of his players.
So strong was Shelbourne’s performance, and so questionable the officials’ performance (in Russell’s eyes, anyway) that the Shels manager believed his side could even have won the game.
Look, really proud of the performance. I thought our defensive shape was really good first half.
Disappointed with the two goals we conceded, some of the decisions as well tonight, didn’t go away. I thought the officials were poor, but the energy levels on the pitch, in the ground, our shape and structure was really good and some really good performances.
I think the second half was really good. We got our block up, we got after Ajax, and for us to be coming away disappointed we’re not winning the game tells you how well we played.
It’s only a matter of weeks since Russell stepped in the doors of Tolka Park after moving from Sligo Rovers, and a “whirlwind” few weeks has now seen him mastermind a draw against one of Europe’s biggest teams.
“It’s a special night,” Russell said.
“European nights are magic. This club has had some big ones in the past.
Obviously, it was a game last week where we had to suffer away from home…tonight, we knew we had a performance in us.
It’s been 100 miles an hour since I’ve come up, It’s been game – recover – game, there’s players leaving the building, we’ve brought Eddie Beach in. I think he’s been a big signing for us.
I think he’s been a big signing for us, we know we need to add more. Obviously the windows closed, but [from] the free agent market. We’ve had a lot of injuries.
We’ve got 10 league games to go now. This game is a good reference point for us. The players have shown against top class opposition that they can compete, and hopefully we can have a strong end to the season.
It was indeed a special night, one which will live long in the memory at Tolka Park.
Shelbourne 2-2 Ajax (3-5 agg.)
Four-time European champions Ajax were about as daunting an opponent as Shelbourne could have expected – but their visit to Tolka Park was also among the most exciting nights in the club’s modern history.
The air was fresh with anticipation on Richmond Road as fans filtered in, and Shelbourne started this game with far more impetus than they had in the first leg in Amsterdam.
Despite a more front-footed approach, Shels found themselves 1-0 down on the night when Julian Brandt’s corner snuck through every body in the box to nestle in the corner of Ed Beach’s net.
Ajax lead at Tolka Park ⚪🔴
Julian Brandt’s cross somehow finds its way into the net to make it 1-0 pic.twitter.com/VRtCMpIZgK
— Premier Sports Ireland (@PremSportsIRL) August 13, 2026
Just a few moments later, though, Tolka Park was rocking as Evan Caffrey curled in from distance – via a deflection – to draw Shels level on the night and reset the gap to two on aggregate.
A goal for the Tolka Park annals. What a moment for Evan Caffrey and the Shelbourne fans
Shels are level on the night against Ajax. Could they…? 👀pic.twitter.com/DAijtrSJvx
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) August 13, 2026
The crowd in the Main Stand were already on their feet before the ball had reached the net. The roar that met the goal was deafening, and hinted at the feeling in the air pre-kick-off that something truly special was on the cards.
Caffrey earned effusive praise from manager John Russell when he spoke to Balls.ie post-match.
“Evan Caffrey, delighted for him to get that goal because, since I’ve come to the club, he’s a player full of energy. He just needs to add that last bit, and he’s been unfortunate not to score yet. I felt he was going to get one tonight, and thankfully did,” Russell said.
Shelbourne were certainly feeding off the energy of their fervent fanbase, as they ramped up the pressure, shooting towards the Drumcondra end.
In truth, a layman may have thought Ajax the minnows for a brief period in the game’s second quarter, such was the energy with which Shels attacked Maarten Paes’ goal.
However, it would not take long for Ajax to show the class which makes them one of the most fabled names in European football. Shortly before half-time, a ricocheted ball found its way to Anton Gaaei, who rifled home from the edge of the box to restore the Dutch giants’ lead.
It was the visiting fans who were now in full voice, with swathes of Ajax supporters having made their way from Amsterdam for one of the more unusual fixtures in the club’s recent history.
Champions League semi-finalists as recently as 2019, Ajax are far more accustomed to dining at European football’s top table, so the prospect of a trip to a venue like Tolka Park was one which their fans relished.
The travelling fans I spoke to outside Tolka Park had certainly made the most of their time in Dublin, and the noise they brought only added to a memorable occasion at the famous ground.
Bob Marley’s ‘Three Little Birds’ was the refrain of choice as the second half got underway and Shels valiantly fought to find an unlikely route back into the tie.
With Ajax relaxed and pushing up further, Shels were finding some joy in behind, as Kerr McInroy’s influence on the game grew. Last week’s goalscorer Daniel Kelly also found plenty of the ball in the Ajax third, but neither man could trouble Paes in the Dutch side’s goal.
Hope of progression may have faded with every passing minute, but hope of a famous result on the night was by no means gone, and Shelbourne continued to believe. Every breaking ball seemed to be met by a Shels man, every 50/50 won by the Dubliners.
20 minutes into the second half, the hosts got their reward, with Milan Mbeng prodding home from close range to draw Shels level once again. However, the joy of the home fans was soon to be quelled, as the unfamiliar presence of VAR intervened at Tolka Park to disallow the goal.
Daniel Kelly was indeed in an offside position in the buildup – whether or not he had played a decisive role was more debatable. It was a cruel decision, and one which threatened to take the wind out of Shels’ sails.
The fans in the Riverside stand made their feelings towards VAR clear with the use of a familiar, foul-mouthed chant.
Shelbourne were not dissuaded, though, and they were to get their just rewards with just five minutes to play, thanks to a superb curled finish by 21-year-old Sean Moore.
That’s simply sensational from Sean Moore to make it 2-2 on the night! 🤯
A moment of magic from the @shelsfc man levels it against Ajax 🔴 pic.twitter.com/aKNn1zCLSS
— Premier Sports Ireland (@PremSportsIRL) August 13, 2026
Just as he had with Caffrey, manager John Russell hailed Moore’s impact over the past two months.
Seán Moore to come into the game, another player who’s made a huge impact since I’ve arrived, I think his ceiling is really high. What a moment for him to come in and cut inside and bend one in on his left foot.
It was no more than Shels deserved for their brave, front-footed second-half approach.
Right at the death, Ajax substitute Tolu Arokodare threatened to spoil the party with a header from point-blank range. The save he drew from Beach was arguably as good as either of the Shels goals.
The moment of the match, though, may have been the superb last-ditch block from Cameron Ledwidge as Ajax pushed for a winner on the night in stoppage time.
Shelbourne’s European journey may be over, but they went out with one of the greatest-ever results by an Irish team in European competition, claiming a draw against the four-time European Cup winners. They were full value for that draw, too, showing immense grit.
Even if there will be no more European nights in Tolka Park this year, it will be a long time before any Shelbourne fan forgets the night they claimed a draw against the mighty Ajax.