Shelbourne have secured a fantastic 1-0 away win over Slovenian side Pomurje in the UEFA Women's Champions League qualifying rounds tonight.
USA legend Heather O'Reilly's fourth minute headed goal gave Shelbourne the lead, and the travelling Irish side managed brilliantly to hold on and secure a place in the final of their round 1 qualifying series.
A 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐬 goal 🔴
Three years after hanging up her boots.@HeatherOReilly scores her first goal in the @UWCL as the Reds beat
ZNK Pomurje 1-0.#DublinsFinest | #Since1895 pic.twitter.com/BjeUxxPmCf— Shelbourne FC (@shelsfc) August 18, 2022
The 37-year-old O'Reilly recently came our of retirement, to much fanfare, to realise her dream of playing Champions League football.
Shelbourne will now face a tight turn around as they meet Icelandic club Valur this Sunday.
Shelbourne Progress
𝐇𝐀𝐎 7️⃣@HeatherOReilly came out of retirement to play in the @UWCL
Tonight she scored the winner for Shels against ZNK Pomurje
Dreams do come true 👏🏻#DublinsFinest | #Since1895 pic.twitter.com/zLW5Oy2ysx— Shelbourne FC (@shelsfc) August 18, 2022
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"You know I've been talking about this for a long time," said O'Reilly on her move to Shelbourne. "I am somebody that chases their dreams. It helped me in my football career. It helped me in life. It’s a little bit obsessive sometimes when I get an idea because usually I have to see it through.
"I had a long, successful, trophy-ridden career, and I am very proud of that, but there was this one hole on my resume that I never played Champions League football.
"It was a disappointing end to my time over with Arsenal when I wrapped up with them in 2018. It irked me, it bothered me. It was always a thing in the back of my head.
"I played in Soccer Aid a few months ago. Mr. Arsene Wenger was my manager. We got talking after one of the sessions, and he says, 'Heather, you are very good, you should still play'. I said, 'Oh thanks Arsene, maybe. I never did play Champions League football, and it always bothered me'. He says, 'You should do it. You should play'. I puffed out my chest, put some more thought into it, and said I was going to start having some conversations.
"Arsene Wenger was the catalyst to get me out of retirement, get the boots back on and give it a go with Shelbourne FC."
A tweet from O'Reilly early this week about how she was playing Champions League football while Ronaldo wasn't went viral.
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