As somewhat expected following last week's sobering 3-0 first leg defeat in Switzerland, Shelbourne bowed out of Europe amid a frenzied atmosphere at Tolka Park.
But there was redemption of sorts on the night as Damien Duff's side held their own in producing a controlled performance that just lacked a clinical edge in front of goal.
Though Shelbourne were the better side for spells of the first half in which they created several chances, Zurich showed their quality in the latter stages of the second as Duff’s side had to defend, and that they did superbly, in what was an entertaining scoreless draw.
Doubtless with Monday’s top-of-the-table league class with Derry City in mind, Duff made five changes from last week, with skipper Mark Coyle and JJ Lunney chief among those who dropped to the bench.
Zurich arrived in Drumcondra backed by a vociferous support of some 350 fans who had walked to the ground under a Garda escort from O’Connell Street.
While Duff had duly acknowledged that Zurich were very good in that first leg, he was disappointed with the performance of his side whose mistakes were ruthlessly punished.
Shelbourne started far better here, forcing the first corner of the game inside the second minute and the first attack of note 12 minutes later.
Centre-back Paddy Barrett launched a free kick from halfway which found winger Will Jarvis in space on the left to advance only to see his hurried shot arrow wide.
Growing in confidence as the game wore on, Shelbourne came close again on the half hour, Matty Smith just not able to get a touch to Ali Coote's low centre across the face of the Zurich goal.
Minutes later a Coote corner found Barrett whose first time volley flashed past a post.
Excellent defending then prevented Shelbourne getting some reward for their first half display in added time.
Impressive midfielder John O’Sullivan whipped over a cross from the right which Nikola Katic cleared off the head of John Martin just three yards from goal.
Zurich showed far more purpose and promise on the resumption, Ifeanyi Onyedika firing wide early on.
Half-time substitute Sam Bone then thwarted Juan Jose Perea with a vital block after the striker got turned in the area to shoot.
With a triple substitution of Liam Burt, Rayhaan Tulloch and Harry Wood introduced just after the hour, Shelbourne admirably played their way back into the game.
But they needed the intervention of the frame of Conor Kearns' goal to keep Zurich out in the chance of the game on 76 minutes.
Bledian Krasniqi’s corner reached Mariano Gomez whose instep volley came back off the corner of the crossbar and a post.
Kearns then showed safe hands when comfortably holding shots from Krasniqi and Antonio Marchesano before producing the save of the night to deny Emmanuel Umeh.
Evan Caffrey added to that with a goal-saving challenge in making a block tackle on former Ireland under-21 international Armstrong Okoflex in the dying minutes.
Shelbourne: Conor Kearns; Tyreke Wilson, Paddy Barrett, Shane Griffin (Sam Bone h-t), Kameron Ledwidge; Ali Coote (JJ Lunney 72), John O’Sullivan (Liam Burt 63); Matty Smith, Evan Caffrey, Will Jarvis (Rayhaan Tulloch 63); John Martin (Harry Wood 63).
FC Zurich: Yanick Brecher; Nikolai Katic, Mariano Gomez, Mirlind Kryeziu, Silvan Wallner; Bledian Krasniqi, Ifeanyi Onyedika (Chevejo Tsawa 74), Antonio Marchesano, Mounir Chouiar (Cheick Conde h-t); Emmanuel Umeh (Armstrong Okoflex 81), Juan Jose Perea (Jonathan Okita 81).
Referee: Robertas Valikonis (Lithuania).
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