Good evening all, and welcome along to our coverage of the Conference League clash between Shamrock Rovers and Breidablik.
Stephen Bradley’s side are in Iceland where they need to bring home three points if they want to keep their play-off hopes alive. A draw against AEK Athens gives Rovers one point from four games and they will need two wins to have a chance of getting inside the top 24, with a home fixture against Hamrun Spartans of Malta to come next week.
Shamrock Rovers and Breidablik previously met in a Champions League qualifier in 2023 where the Icelandic side won over two legs.
We’ll be bringing you through all the action this evening and will have team line-ups for your shortly as we edge closer to the 5.45pm kick-off in Reykjavik.
Edward McGinty, Lee Grace, Roberto Lopes, Daniel Cleary, Victor Ozhianvuna, Matt Healy, Dylan Watts, Danny Grant, Cory O’Sullivan, Rory Gaffney, Graham Burke.
11 Dec
5:24PM
The game will be shown live on Premier Sport 1 and TNT Sports 5.
11 Dec
5:25PM
Do you think Shamrock Rovers can get a result this evening to keep their European dream on track?
And we are underway with Rovers playing in their purple away kit.
11 Dec
5:47PM
1 min: Breidablik 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
The hosts create the first chance but Ed McGinty is alert to the danger and gets down to ground the ball. Rovers get ready to attack.
11 Dec
5:48PM
2 mins: Breidablik 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
Rovers give the ball away with a duffed clearance but Breidablik don’t do much with the chance.
11 Dec
5:51PM
5 mins: Breidablik 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
Rovers under a bit of early pressure. They can’t seem to keep the ball outside of their own half andBreidablik look a little bit sharper.
Play is then halted as McGinty requires attention.
11 Dec
5:53PM
7 mins: Breidablik 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
It doesn’t look like McGinty got a knock there and the match commentary team reckon it’s a tactical decision, giving his side time to reset during this period of sustained pressure.
11 Dec
5:56PM
10 mins: Breidablik 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
That little disruption seems to have benefited Rovers. They’re managing to string some passes together and make some use of their width.
A great piece of play from Rory Gaffney in the middle of the field sees them open the play a bit more and spread the ball around a bit more.
11 Dec
5:58PM
12 mins: Breidablik 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
Dylan Watts sends a ball in behind for Cory O’Sullivan to chase. O’Sullivan does well to retain possession and the move ends in a throw for the hosts. But that’s much better for Rovers who are growing into the game now.
11 Dec
6:00PM
12 mins: Breidablik 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
MISS!
Þorsteinsson gets past the Rovers cover but his shot blazes wide.
11 Dec
6:01PM
15 mins: Breidablik 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
Rovers win the first corner of the game. Watts heads over to take. It’s a very windy evening so it will be interesting to see what Rovers do with this.
11 Dec
6:02PM
16 mins: Breidablik 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
It’s an inswinger that gets cleared as far as Danny Grant. His return volley almost catches the keeper on the line.
11 Dec
6:06PM
20 mins: Breidablik 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
Matt Healy links up with Graham Burke. O’Sullivan adds to the attack and forces Breidablik to concede a throw.
Another bit of lovely football from O’Sullivan as he sprints in behind to get on the end of a ball from Matt Healy. He tries to square it but the goalkeeper gets his body behind it.
11 Dec
6:07PM
21 mins: Breidablik 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
Rovers starting to dominate in possession now as the away fans make their voices heard on what is a very cold night over in Reykjavik.
11 Dec
6:08PM
22 mins: Breidablik 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
Lee Grace does enough to deflect the ball away for a corner. Now the visitors have to defend a set-piece.
11 Dec
6:11PM
24 mins: Breidablik 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
Lovely ball picks out Graham Burke who carries the ball into the box. Grant clips it back across but O’Sullivan is blocked by Yeoman who puts the ball out for a corner.
11 Dec
6:11PM
26 mins: Breidablik 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
Free out after the referee spots some pushing in the back.
11 Dec
6:14PM
28 mins: Breidablik 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
Cleary goes down clutching his foot while he was in possession. It looks like he was stepped on and Rovers have a free from a dangerous position.
Watts sends in a brilliant delivery and Grace gets his head underneath it but the ball takes a deflection over the bar.
11 Dec
6:15PM
29 mins: Breidablik 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
Rovers fail to engineer anything from the corner but they have the ball again from the kickout and have won another throw.
11 Dec
6:16PM
31 mins: Breidablik 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
Another chance for Rovers as the ball drifts all the way across the box but Grant arrives just a little too late and Breidablik can build again.
Brilliant goal from Burke and Rovers deserve that lead!
Burke has been excellent so far and was well positioned to produce that finish. Rory Gaffney created the chance by squaring the ball to Healy, who tapped it forward for Burke to turn and shoot on sight.
And after taking the lead so brilliantly, Stephen Bradley concede and it’s all square again in Iceland. Margeirsson taps home the loose ball from a corner which Rovers fail to deal with.
McGinty gets off his line to collect a long ball forward as Burke spins around his player to try and create something. Good response from Rovers after conceding the equaliser.
11 Dec
6:30PM
44 mins: Breidablik 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
Good work from Gaffney who applies good pressure and gets the block in for a throw to Breidablik in an awkward position.
11 Dec
6:31PM
44 mins: Breidablik 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
One minute of added time to be played as Rovers win another corner.
11 Dec
6:32PM
44 mins: Breidablik 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
It’s a good ball in from Watts but the hosts deal with it.
The second half is underway and both sides remain unchanged.
11 Dec
6:49PM
45 mins: Breidablik 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
Watts with the first shot of the second half from the edge of the box but Breidablik keep the ball out.
11 Dec
6:53PM
49 mins: Breidablik 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
SAVE!
Such a good move from Rovers there. Burke creates it with some lovely footwork and another great bit of agility to spin around a defender and help the ball through to Gaffney.
He keeps his left-footed effort low but his shot produces a great save. The offside flag goes up so it wouldn’t have counted anyway but that’s another flash of brilliance from the League of Ireland and FAI Cup champions.
11 Dec
6:58PM
56 mins: Breidablik 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
Grant sends the ball across from the wing but it’s easily gathered. Breidablik counter and win a corner at the other end after a block from Lopes.
Burke almost scores an own goal in an attempt to clear the corner but the ball trails wide and Breidablik will attack from the other side now.
11 Dec
6:59PM
57 mins: Breidablik 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
The winds gets hold of the ball and sends it wide. It’s hard to judge these conditions with a swirling breeze in Iceland.
11 Dec
7:00PM
58 mins: Breidablik 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
Good defensive work from Rovers after giving possession away. O’Sullivan tries to send the ball forward to Gaffney but he can’t control it and Breidablik have the ball back.
11 Dec
7:02PM
58 mins: Breidablik 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
Lee Grace makes his way off the field after receiving treatment. Kovalevskis is sent on in his place.
11 Dec
7:04PM
62 mins: Breidablik 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
A moment of frustration there from Cleary as he kicks the ball away after it goes out.
11 Dec
7:07PM
65 mins: Breidablik 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
Good interplay from Rovers in the middle as Lopes eventually sends the ball across to Grant on the opposite wing.
Gaffney then makes a brilliant break and the substitute Kovalevskis gets involved to build on the move.
11 Dec
7:09PM
65 mins: Breidablik 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
Kovalevskis gives away a free after a heavy challenge. Rovers eventually win the ball back but the referee blows the whistle to award a free to Breidablik.
11 Dec
7:12PM
69 mins: Breidablik 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
Shamrock Rovers change: Michael Noonan is on for Grant.
Noonan then gets his first touch as Kovalevskis draws the foul and it’s a yellow card for Jónsson.
11 Dec
7:15PM
73 mins: Breidablik 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
Rovers advance really well. Again, Burke is instrumental as Healy also adds to the move. Burke then chips the ball into an unmarked Kovalevskis in the corner. But instead of composing himself with a touch to control the ball, he hits it first time and the effort does little to trouble the keeper.
And against the run of play too. It’s a beautiful finish from Óli Valur Ómarsson to be fair, who arrows his shot into the bottom corner from just inside the edge of the box.
Stephen Bradley’s side have to summon a response if they want to keep their play-off hopes alive.
More bad luck for Rovers as Victor Ozhianvuna appears to be done for the night after picking up an injury.
Gaffney then has a chance at goal but he scuffs his shot.
11 Dec
7:26PM
83 mins: Breidablik 2-1 Shamrock Rovers
Rovers changes: Connor Malley and John McGovern come in for Watts and Ozhianvuna.
11 Dec
7:28PM
86 mins: Breidablik 2-1 Shamrock Rovers
Rovers piling on the pressure and committing numbers forward. O’Sullivan sends in a delivery and Cleary gets his head on it but there’s no threat unfortunately. Breidablik get a free in the middle of the field and that eats up some of the time.
Time starting to tick away.
11 Dec
7:33PM
86 mins: Breidablik 2-1 Shamrock Rovers
Kovalevskis does really well to produce a cross under pressure. He finds Gaffney whose effort is deflected out for a corner.
GOAL! Breidablik 3-1 Shamrock Rovers (Kristinn Jónsson ’91)
11 Dec
7:37PM
94 mins: Breidablik 3-1 Shamrock Rovers
And that is that as the hosts score into an empty net when McGinty went forward for the corner. Roves had to commit numbers forward and they’ve paid a heavy price.
Shelbourne need a win to maintain realistic hopes of progression in the Uefa Conference League.
It won’t be easy, however.
Crystal Palace are strong favourites.
Oliver Glasner’s side started the day 16 places above them in the Uefa Conference League table and could do with a win themselves that would be all but ensure their progress to the knockout stages.
The Eagles also have had an excellent season so far domestically — they are fourth in the Premier League table, seven points off leaders Arsenal.
Kick-off at Tallaght Stadium is at 8pm.
11 Dec
7:47PM
Breidablik 3-1 Shamrock Rovers
That’s a real shame for Rovers. They looked to be so in control of that game, particularly when Graham Burke gave them the lead after half an hour.
Even when they conceded a minute later, they responded well and looked like they might take the lead again. But it was Breidablik who edged ahead in the second half, and when Stephen Bradley’s side had no choice but to press forward, they ended up conceding a third goal in added time when Kristinn Jónsson sent the ball into an empty net.
And so, that defeat ends Rovers’ hopes of reaching the Uefa Conference League play-offs. But they will have to reset again and get ready for the visit of Hamrun Spartans from Malta next week.
11 Dec
7:50PM
Confirmation of the Shels team below.
Joey O’Brien has revealed Mipo Odubeko is “sick” and therefore not in the matchday squad.
It means Sean Boyd gets a rare start following an injury-interrupted campaign.
But don’t go far, Rovers are not the only League of Ireland side in action this evening. Shelbourne also have a must-win game in the Conference League as they host Premier League outfit Crystal Palace.
You can follow all the live action with The42′s Paul Fennessy here.
We hope you enjoyed the coverage here this evening and look forward to having you with us again soon. Until next time, bye bye!
11 Dec
7:53PM
Crystal Palace have made four changes from their 2-1 win over Fulham at the weekend. Goalkeeper Walter Benitez, Justin Devenny, Borna Sosa and Christantus Uche all come into the team.
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As it happened: Shamrock Rovers' European play-off hopes dashed after 3-1 loss to Breidablik
Good evening all, and welcome along to our coverage of the Conference League clash between Shamrock Rovers and Breidablik.
Stephen Bradley’s side are in Iceland where they need to bring home three points if they want to keep their play-off hopes alive. A draw against AEK Athens gives Rovers one point from four games and they will need two wins to have a chance of getting inside the top 24, with a home fixture against Hamrun Spartans of Malta to come next week.
Shamrock Rovers and Breidablik previously met in a Champions League qualifier in 2023 where the Icelandic side won over two legs.
We’ll be bringing you through all the action this evening and will have team line-ups for your shortly as we edge closer to the 5.45pm kick-off in Reykjavik.
Breidablik XI
Einarsson, Ingvarsson, Margeirsson, Muminović, Yeoman, Gunnlaugsson, Jónsson, Einarsson, Bjarnason, Þorsteinsson, Ómarsson
Shamrock Rovers XI
Edward McGinty, Lee Grace, Roberto Lopes, Daniel Cleary, Victor Ozhianvuna, Matt Healy, Dylan Watts, Danny Grant, Cory O’Sullivan, Rory Gaffney, Graham Burke.
The game will be shown live on Premier Sport 1 and TNT Sports 5.
Do you think Shamrock Rovers can get a result this evening to keep their European dream on track?
Not long to go now. It’s all on the line for Shamrock Rovers this evening!
The teams are heading out to the pitch now. Almost ready to go!
Kick-Off! Breidablik v Shamrock Rovers
1 min: Breidablik 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
And we are underway with Rovers playing in their purple away kit.
1 min: Breidablik 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
The hosts create the first chance but Ed McGinty is alert to the danger and gets down to ground the ball. Rovers get ready to attack.
2 mins: Breidablik 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
Rovers give the ball away with a duffed clearance but Breidablik don’t do much with the chance.
5 mins: Breidablik 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
Rovers under a bit of early pressure. They can’t seem to keep the ball outside of their own half and Breidablik look a little bit sharper.
Play is then halted as McGinty requires attention.
7 mins: Breidablik 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
It doesn’t look like McGinty got a knock there and the match commentary team reckon it’s a tactical decision, giving his side time to reset during this period of sustained pressure.
10 mins: Breidablik 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
That little disruption seems to have benefited Rovers. They’re managing to string some passes together and make some use of their width.
A great piece of play from Rory Gaffney in the middle of the field sees them open the play a bit more and spread the ball around a bit more.
12 mins: Breidablik 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
Dylan Watts sends a ball in behind for Cory O’Sullivan to chase. O’Sullivan does well to retain possession and the move ends in a throw for the hosts. But that’s much better for Rovers who are growing into the game now.
12 mins: Breidablik 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
MISS!
Þorsteinsson gets past the Rovers cover but his shot blazes wide.
15 mins: Breidablik 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
Rovers win the first corner of the game. Watts heads over to take. It’s a very windy evening so it will be interesting to see what Rovers do with this.
16 mins: Breidablik 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
It’s an inswinger that gets cleared as far as Danny Grant. His return volley almost catches the keeper on the line.
20 mins: Breidablik 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
Matt Healy links up with Graham Burke. O’Sullivan adds to the attack and forces Breidablik to concede a throw.
Another bit of lovely football from O’Sullivan as he sprints in behind to get on the end of a ball from Matt Healy. He tries to square it but the goalkeeper gets his body behind it.
21 mins: Breidablik 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
Rovers starting to dominate in possession now as the away fans make their voices heard on what is a very cold night over in Reykjavik.
22 mins: Breidablik 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
Lee Grace does enough to deflect the ball away for a corner. Now the visitors have to defend a set-piece.
24 mins: Breidablik 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
Lovely ball picks out Graham Burke who carries the ball into the box. Grant clips it back across but O’Sullivan is blocked by Yeoman who puts the ball out for a corner.
26 mins: Breidablik 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
Free out after the referee spots some pushing in the back.
28 mins: Breidablik 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
Cleary goes down clutching his foot while he was in possession. It looks like he was stepped on and Rovers have a free from a dangerous position.
Watts sends in a brilliant delivery and Grace gets his head underneath it but the ball takes a deflection over the bar.
29 mins: Breidablik 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
Rovers fail to engineer anything from the corner but they have the ball again from the kickout and have won another throw.
31 mins: Breidablik 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
Another chance for Rovers as the ball drifts all the way across the box but Grant arrives just a little too late and Breidablik can build again.
GOAL! Breidablik 0-1 Shamrock Rovers (Graham Burke ’31)
32 mins: Breidablik 0-1 Shamrock Rovers
Brilliant goal from Burke and Rovers deserve that lead!
Burke has been excellent so far and was well positioned to produce that finish. Rory Gaffney created the chance by squaring the ball to Healy, who tapped it forward for Burke to turn and shoot on sight.
GOAL! Breidablik 1-1 Shamrock Rovers (Margeirsson ’32)
36 mins: Breidablik 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
That’s just so unfortunate!
And after taking the lead so brilliantly, Stephen Bradley concede and it’s all square again in Iceland. Margeirsson taps home the loose ball from a corner which Rovers fail to deal with.
Have a look at Graham Burke’s goal
43 mins: Breidablik 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
McGinty gets off his line to collect a long ball forward as Burke spins around his player to try and create something. Good response from Rovers after conceding the equaliser.
44 mins: Breidablik 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
Good work from Gaffney who applies good pressure and gets the block in for a throw to Breidablik in an awkward position.
44 mins: Breidablik 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
One minute of added time to be played as Rovers win another corner.
44 mins: Breidablik 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
It’s a good ball in from Watts but the hosts deal with it.
Half-Time! Breidablik 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
Second Half: Breidablik 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
45 mins: Breidablik 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
The second half is underway and both sides remain unchanged.
45 mins: Breidablik 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
Watts with the first shot of the second half from the edge of the box but Breidablik keep the ball out.
49 mins: Breidablik 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
SAVE!
Such a good move from Rovers there. Burke creates it with some lovely footwork and another great bit of agility to spin around a defender and help the ball through to Gaffney.
He keeps his left-footed effort low but his shot produces a great save. The offside flag goes up so it wouldn’t have counted anyway but that’s another flash of brilliance from the League of Ireland and FAI Cup champions.
56 mins: Breidablik 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
Grant sends the ball across from the wing but it’s easily gathered. Breidablik counter and win a corner at the other end after a block from Lopes.
Burke almost scores an own goal in an attempt to clear the corner but the ball trails wide and Breidablik will attack from the other side now.
57 mins: Breidablik 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
The winds gets hold of the ball and sends it wide. It’s hard to judge these conditions with a swirling breeze in Iceland.
58 mins: Breidablik 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
Good defensive work from Rovers after giving possession away. O’Sullivan tries to send the ball forward to Gaffney but he can’t control it and Breidablik have the ball back.
58 mins: Breidablik 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
Lee Grace makes his way off the field after receiving treatment. Kovalevskis is sent on in his place.
62 mins: Breidablik 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
A moment of frustration there from Cleary as he kicks the ball away after it goes out.
65 mins: Breidablik 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
Good interplay from Rovers in the middle as Lopes eventually sends the ball across to Grant on the opposite wing.
Gaffney then makes a brilliant break and the substitute Kovalevskis gets involved to build on the move.
65 mins: Breidablik 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
Kovalevskis gives away a free after a heavy challenge. Rovers eventually win the ball back but the referee blows the whistle to award a free to Breidablik.
69 mins: Breidablik 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
Shamrock Rovers change: Michael Noonan is on for Grant.
Noonan then gets his first touch as Kovalevskis draws the foul and it’s a yellow card for Jónsson.
73 mins: Breidablik 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
Rovers advance really well. Again, Burke is instrumental as Healy also adds to the move. Burke then chips the ball into an unmarked Kovalevskis in the corner. But instead of composing himself with a touch to control the ball, he hits it first time and the effort does little to trouble the keeper.
GOAL! Breidablik 2-1 Shamrock Rovers (Ómarsson ’74)
77 mins: Breidablik 2-1 Shamrock Rovers
What a sucker punch?
And against the run of play too. It’s a beautiful finish from Óli Valur Ómarsson to be fair, who arrows his shot into the bottom corner from just inside the edge of the box.
Stephen Bradley’s side have to summon a response if they want to keep their play-off hopes alive.
82 mins: Breidablik 2-1 Shamrock Rovers
More bad luck for Rovers as Victor Ozhianvuna appears to be done for the night after picking up an injury.
Gaffney then has a chance at goal but he scuffs his shot.
83 mins: Breidablik 2-1 Shamrock Rovers
Rovers changes: Connor Malley and John McGovern come in for Watts and Ozhianvuna.
86 mins: Breidablik 2-1 Shamrock Rovers
Rovers piling on the pressure and committing numbers forward. O’Sullivan sends in a delivery and Cleary gets his head on it but there’s no threat unfortunately. Breidablik get a free in the middle of the field and that eats up some of the time.
Time starting to tick away.
86 mins: Breidablik 2-1 Shamrock Rovers
Kovalevskis does really well to produce a cross under pressure. He finds Gaffney whose effort is deflected out for a corner.
McGinty is up to help out.
GOAL! Breidablik 3-1 Shamrock Rovers (Kristinn Jónsson ’91)
94 mins: Breidablik 3-1 Shamrock Rovers
And that is that as the hosts score into an empty net when McGinty went forward for the corner. Roves had to commit numbers forward and they’ve paid a heavy price.
Full-Time! Breidablik 3-1 Shamrock Rovers
Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.
Shelbourne need a win to maintain realistic hopes of progression in the Uefa Conference League.
It won’t be easy, however.
Crystal Palace are strong favourites.
Oliver Glasner’s side started the day 16 places above them in the Uefa Conference League table and could do with a win themselves that would be all but ensure their progress to the knockout stages.
The Eagles also have had an excellent season so far domestically — they are fourth in the Premier League table, seven points off leaders Arsenal.
Kick-off at Tallaght Stadium is at 8pm.
Breidablik 3-1 Shamrock Rovers
That’s a real shame for Rovers. They looked to be so in control of that game, particularly when Graham Burke gave them the lead after half an hour.
Even when they conceded a minute later, they responded well and looked like they might take the lead again. But it was Breidablik who edged ahead in the second half, and when Stephen Bradley’s side had no choice but to press forward, they ended up conceding a third goal in added time when Kristinn Jónsson sent the ball into an empty net.
And so, that defeat ends Rovers’ hopes of reaching the Uefa Conference League play-offs. But they will have to reset again and get ready for the visit of Hamrun Spartans from Malta next week.
Confirmation of the Shels team below.
Joey O’Brien has revealed Mipo Odubeko is “sick” and therefore not in the matchday squad.
It means Sean Boyd gets a rare start following an injury-interrupted campaign.
Breidablik 3-1 Shamrock Rovers
Well, that’s all from us, folks.
But don’t go far, Rovers are not the only League of Ireland side in action this evening. Shelbourne also have a must-win game in the Conference League as they host Premier League outfit Crystal Palace.
You can follow all the live action with The42′s Paul Fennessy here.
We hope you enjoyed the coverage here this evening and look forward to having you with us again soon. Until next time, bye bye!
Crystal Palace have made four changes from their 2-1 win over Fulham at the weekend. Goalkeeper Walter Benitez, Justin Devenny, Borna Sosa and Christantus Uche all come into the team.
Who do you think will win?
Poll Results:
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