Navigating Europe and astute signings key for Shelbourne's title tilt

Keith Treacy and David McMillan have backed Shelbourne to get over the line in the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division but only if they can navigate the choppy waters of extra European games and continue to be astute in the transfer market when it opens in July.

Damien Duff has guided the club to the top of the league as it goes into a two-week mid-season break but Shels have Derry City hot on their heels and four-in-a-row Shamrock Rovers cannot be discounted, despite being off the pace.

Shelbourne will be drawn against one of Icelandic side Breidablik, Luxembourg's F91 Diddeleng, SP Tre Penne of San Marino, Gibraltar's St Joseph's FC and Northern Ireland's Crusaders in the Europa Conference League first qualifying round and the extra continental games could strain what is a relatively tight squad, which will be shorn of one of its defensive cornerstones after Gavin Molloy moves to Aberdeen on 1 July.

Speaking on the RTÉ Soccer Podcast, former Republic of Ireland international Treacy said last Thursday's hard-fought win over Waterford could be a template to haul them through the testing period that will come when the league returns and European assignments arrive.

"If they can do that against Waterford, not play too well and not have too many chances, not be as dynamic as they usually are, not as aggressive as they usually are out of possession but go and win 1-0, if you can do that during the European period, there is absolutely no reason they can't win the league," he said.

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