Shay spoke to RedTV after the game:

“It was a long and difficult night and you have to give credit and respect to our opponents who made us work very hard for the win. They were a decent side who were organised.

“At this stage of the season it was maybe the task that we needed. We will feel the benefit from playing a tough game.

“The first competitive game, so early in the season, you are never going to be at your absolute best. It is difficult because it is such an important game to be playing at this stage (of pre-season).

“We knew our skill and ability was good enough. We knew our fitness would come into play so we just kept going.

“It was frustrating to have the two goals by Ash chalked off. In those situations, inside the box I think the attacking players need to have a little bit more leeway from the referee’s, although it does work both ways.

“They put a lot of work into the game and I thought they were beginning to tire which was understandable. We just had to keep going.

“We knew the first goal was coming. It could have come at different points in the night but thankfully it arrived after the hour mark.

“It was nice to score the first goal of the season for the club. I did the same thing two seasons ago.

“I also scored against Hearts in pre-season. I just feel that when I am in the area no one is really looking at me as I am one of the smallest players in there. But I can jump and I have an eye for goal because I used to be a striker. A few balls had come close to me before I scored. Thankfully this time the ball sat up nicely for me to hit.

“We then undo the good work by giving away a silly goal. When the first goal went in we should have sat back for five minutes and concentrated. When you score the next five minutes makes you vulnerable.

“But we did well at 1-1, we piled on the pressure. “We stuck in and got a second and then a third. The second goal was an own goal, if I had touched it then it would have been offside.

“The lads showed great commitment and fitness towards the end of the game.

“It now puts us in a good position going into the tie over there next Thursday.

“Hopefully we can put in a strong performance in Luxembourg as well. We will have a better idea of how they play, what to expect, what we are up against, so that should hopefully help us.

“We have to go and do the same job over there.

“If we had finished the game at 1-1 we would have been very disappointed so we have to be happy with a 3-1 scoreline even though it could have been more.

“We worked so hard last year to get into Europe, we are going to work very hard to stay in Europe.

“We know the job is still not done.”

“We know the job is still not done.”