Goals from Brenna Lovera and Lauren Davidson helped Glasgow City reach the final of Round 1 of the UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifiers as they overcame Shelbourne this morning.

The Scottish side controlled a lot of the tie and after a largely cagey opening 45 minutes at the Siauliai Central Stadium, two goals ten minutes apart sent them on their way to meet either Gintra or Cardiff City in the next round.

Shelbourne had chances but only one real notable shot on goal, Glasgow really showed their class from the word go, attacking with intent and only for some vital saves from Amanda McQuillan and a vital goal line clearance by Maggie Pierce, the Irish side could have lost by more.

The losers of Gintra and Cardiff City will face Shelbourne Saturday morning in the third/fourth place off.

Glasgow City looked bright from the off, Linda Motlhalo headed wide after a throw in before Kinga Kozak shot from range which cannoned off the crossbar and Shels were at sixes and sevens to clear the danger, Cori Sullivan unable to steer home a chance in the aftermath Keeva Keenan with a smart clearance, all the action coming in the opening five minutes.

Shelbourne had their backs to the walls and were limited in the way of chances, Megan Smyth Lynch fired an effort from range that lofted well wide of the goal. City went again in search of the opener, Lauren Davidson's strike from the edge of the box was blocked and cleared, before after taking their first corner the ball broke to Sullivan on the edge of the area but her goal bound effort was blocked and again Shelbourne cleared.

It was an opening twenty minutes largely played with Shelbourne having to defend, Alex Kavanagh struck a free kick goal bound hoping to create a first shot on target, the strike curling wide of Lee Gibson’s goal.

Smyth Lynch had a much better effort the second time of asking, her strike from outside the area was tipped onto the crossbar by Gibson, the best chance Shels had in the opening stanza. 

Amanda McQuillan was busy after the half hour mark, saving Mairead Fulton’s speculative effort from range, before a stunning save denied Brenna Lovera the opener, her effort looked destined to land in the bottom corner, the strong hand of the Shels shot stopper tipped it for a corner.

In the final minutes of the first half, Linda Mothalo looked to have almost struck for the lead,  a slight deflection on the effort's projected path towards the top corner saw it fizz wide of the goal to keep the score level at the break.

Early in the second half the tempo was upped from both teams, it was Glasgow with the first of the early chances, Mairead Fulton with a freekick from the right found Kenzie Weir in the box but her looping header went just over.

Christie Gray had the first shot on target for the Irish side in the 51st minute, the onrushing Gibson able to use her frame to deny the Canadian attacker from making the breakthrough. In a busy minute McQuillan needed to deny Lovera heading a cross from the left hand channel to the back of the net.

54 minutes in and Glasgow got the opening goal, Kozak won the ball in midfield before playing through Lovera who glided left and right to get through the Shelbourne defence, making zero mistakes as her shot nestled in the bottom corner of McQuillan’s goal.

The lead gave City confidence, almost going 2-0 ahead when Motlhalo struck a low driven shot from outside the area that McQuillan needed to be down quick to save. Maggie Pierce would later make a stunning goal line clearance after the hour mark, Lauren Davidson with the effort but thwarted by some incredible defending.

Davidson would double the Scottish outfits lead in the 65th minute, taking the ball inside the area she raced towards the by-line and from the tightest of angles sent the ball across goal but the effort beat McQuillan at her near post. 

With a two goal deficit, Shelbourne needed to score to have any hopes of staying in the tie, Morgan Rees with an effort that was easily gathered by Gibson followed as they kept trying to force the breakthrough. 

Rees' effort proved to be the only time they tested Gibson towards the end of the half, former Shelbourne player Emily Whelan came off the bench for City and had an effort on goal that McQuillan was down to save.

Murray fired from range in stoppage time that lofted over the bar, the European dream ends after the first round, one more game to go before Noel King's charges return to mount a challenge once again for the League and FAI Women's Cup.