Hello, and welcome to this evening’s liveblog.

We’re just underway here…

Here is the Rovers team:

Jansson, Sullivan, Oman, Sives, Powell, McCabe, Rice, Finn, Brennan, Dennehy, Twigg.

Not too much to report on so far.

Ekranas have enjoyed the majority of the possession in the opening stages, with neither side testing the respective gaolkeepers as of yet.

Commentating for Setanta, Alan Mathews says that so far, it resembles “a friendly-type game,” which, he believes, will suit Rovers.

It’s certainly been low key, with not even a half-chance to speak of as yet.

Here is the Ekranas team by the way…

Emilljus Zubas, Vytautas Luksa, Ignas Dedura, Mantas Samusiovas, Yani Urdinov, Aurimas Kucys, Marko Andjelkovic, Giedrius Tomkevicius, Aurimas Vertelis, Zilvinas Kymantas, Egidijus Varnas.

Great save from Jansson to stop Varnas, who had ghosted in behind Conor Powell and latched on to a clever through ball.

The hosts look like they’re beginning to settle now.

With 25 minutes gone, Rovers can be relatively happy with how they’ve started this game.

They’ve kept the hosts’ chances to a minimum, although they’ve barely had a shot on goal themselves either.

Rovers are starting to play with a bit more confidence in attack, and are increasingly beginning to make inroads into the opposition’s final third, without showing the necessary incisiveness to create a chance.

The ball is launched in Twigg’s direction and he wins his header, and it falls to Dennehy, who fails to catch hold of his shot properly.

The big striker is causing the Ekranas defence a few problems already.

Billy Dennehy curls in a dangerous free kick that narrowly eludes the onrushing Twigg.

Rovers are getting closer and look the better team at the moment – their tendency to play better away from home in Europe, which was apparent last season, seems to be applicable in this instance too.

Luksa has a pot shot from about 30 yards out that drifts over the bar.

Although it never came close to threatening the goalkeeper, it’s just a reminder to Rovers that they can’t afford to rest on their laurels.

GOAL FOR EKRANAS!

A pinpoint cross finds Andjelkovic, whose glancing header beats Jansson. That’s a big blow for Rovers.

HALF-TIME: EKRANAS 1-0 SHAMROCK ROVERS

Rovers will be gutted to go in a goal down at half-time.

They kept their opponents quiet for the majority of that first half, while the goal came out of nowhere, and could surely have been avoided if their man-marking had been a bit tighter.

It simply illustrates how a lapse of concentration can punish you at this level.

Nonetheless, they needed to score at some stage this evening (unless they were hoping to win on penalties), and a goal would put them right back in the driving seat.

Twigg has caused his marker some problems in the opening 45 minutes, so an equaliser looks feasible – they just need to attack Ekranas with more conviction now.

Tellingly, Ekranas are back on the pitch, while Rovers remain in the dressing room.

Stephen Kenny clearly has a lot to say at half-time.

We’re back underway…

Good chance for Rovers. McCabe plays an excellent cross into the box, but Dennehy can’t connect with it properly, side-footing the ball well wide.

They need to make more of those kind of chances if they want to progress.

McCabe again finds himself in a position to cross, but on this occasion, he fails to pick out Twigg and Dennehy in the box.

Down the other end, Varnas fails to make the most of a shot from close range.

The game is becoming far more open, in contrast with much of the first half.

Ambitious shot by Brennan from roughly forty yards out.

If he scored, it would be hailed as a moment of genius, but since he didn’t, it just looks overly ambitious and wasteful.

GOAL FOR EKRANAS!

Kymantas launches a powerful shot from a few yards outside the box that gives Jansson no chance. Again, the goal was preventable, as Rovers’ defence backed off the attacker.

That’s surely that for Rovers’ Champions League dream, barring a miracle.

In a bid to change their fortunes, Turner has come on for Brennan, as Rovers adopt a more attacking formation.

They look short of ideas and slightly demoralised at the moment though.

Just under 20 minutes remaining…

Kavanagh replaces Rice, with Rovers reverting to 4-4-2.

Still, as was the case in the first half, Rovers are attacking in a hesitant, laboured manner, as if they don’t really believe they can score.

Great save by Jansson, who prevents the Ekranas striker from rounding him, after the latter beat the offside trap and found himself through on goal.

Just before that, Kavanagh went down in the Ekranas box, but it seemed relatively innocuous on first look.

Kilduff has replaced Dennehy, as Rovers make one last substitution in desperation.

Umeh comes on for Vertelis for the hosts.

Another great save from Jansson after the ball ricochets into the path of Umeh.

Rovers have almost everyone up whenever they have a free-kick, but in truth, it’s Ekranas who look more likely to add to their advantage on the break.

Jansson is forced to parry it away, after yet another swift Ekranas counter-attack, followed by a powerful shot by Varnas.

Kilduff beats the offside trap, but fails to really catch hold of the strike, dragging it well wide.

There have been several similar instances throughout the game, where a killer instinct has eluded Rovers.

GOAL FOR ROVERS!

McCabe scores from a penalty after a contentious handball from an Ekranas player.

Rovers have about two minutes to score or they’re out.

A free kick is floated in, but agonisingly, Sives fails to connect properly with his header.

FULL-TIME: EKRANAS 2-1 SHAMROCK ROVERS (Rovers are out of the Champions League)

Ultimately, Rovers only have themselves to blame.

The concession of two avoidable goals ultimately cost them dearly, while they failed to attack with the requisite intensity, and when chances occasionally did come their way, the visitors did not show the necessary level of composure to score.

They will still be hugely disappointed however, as Ekranas weren’t particularly impressive either, and the early loss means they don’t even have the consolation of a place in the Europa League.

At least now they can try to improve their lacklustre league form without any distractions.

Alright, that’s it from me. Thanks, as always, for your company.