Linfield’s 3-1 Setanta Cup loss to Shamrock Rovers on Monday night - what could be the Blues’ last ever appearance in the all-Ireland tournament which has no sponsor for next season - was made worse by sectarian behaviour and criminal damage at Windsor Park.
Two flares were thrown from the North Stand occupied by visiting fans during the first half of the quarter-final second leg, to which Rovers carried a 4-1 aggregate advantage into, briefly pausing play.
Seats were then ripped up and hurled pitch-side, before the riot police intervened, forcibly removing Rovers fans from the part of the stand they had moved towards the Linfield supporters.
By half-time, the visiting Rovers fans had been fenced in at the opposite end, with a reduced PSNI presence keeping watch.
Former Blues forward Tommy Stewart wanted to remind Linfield of how far his career has come in the Airtricity League, with a stunning brace, before substitute Billy Dennehy caught out 19-year old ‘keeper Ross Glendinning.
David Armstrong had netted the opener with a close range header, but it wasn’t enough to bring Linfield back into the tie.
David Jeffrey refused to discuss what happened off the pitch, besides labelling it “a sad night for football,” and instead attempted to focus on the positives from his team’s work-ethic.
“We got off to a good start,” the Linfield boss said. “There have been times this season that we have been beaten and I have been really down in the boots but I was really pleased with the football we played.”
LINFIELD: Glendinning, Burns, Douglas, Armstrong, Quinn, Lowry, Gault, Mulgrew, McCaul, Carvill, Thompson.
Subs not used: Deane, Henderson, Curran, Hanley, Garrett, Ervin, Clarke.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Murphy, McCormack, Ledwith, McGuinnes, Foran, Chambers (Finn, 62), Robinson, Rice, O’Connor (Dennehy, 56), Sheppard (McCabe, 74), Stewart.
Subs not used: Brush, Kilduff, Elebert, Oman.
REFEREE: Mervyn Smyth
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