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AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Shamrock Rovers v Mlada Boleslav, Cork City v AEK Larnaca, Europa League

Check out how the League of Ireland sides get on in Europe tonight.

Hello, and welcome to this evening’s liveblog.

As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the game. E-mail paul@the42.ie, tweet @the42_ie, post a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.

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The Cork game gets underway at 7.45pm, while the Rovers match starts at 8pm.

The Cork match is underway…

Early half-chance for Cork.

Bolger’s inswinging free kick narrowly misses Sheppard.

Trichkovski plays through Taulemesse, and McNulty gets down swiftly to make the save.

Moments later, a nervy moment for the visitors, as Juan Pablo comes way out of goal and just about gets to the ball ahead of Sheppard.

Aaron Gallagher is The42′s reporter at Tallaght Stadium tonight. Here’s what he has to say…

“The crowd is slowly starting to build here in Tallaght Stadium. A clear blue sky descends for what promises to be another great night in Europe for Shamrock Rovers.

“Their first-round passage against Stjarnan saw Rovers win both legs of a European tie for only the third ever time in their history. Another win and a clean sheet will be the goal tonight and with Boleslav still in pre-season mode, they may very well get it.

“The Czech league does not begin until next month and Boleslav have been reliant on a weekend friendly as preparation for tonight’s Europa League qualifier. Anything is possible for the Hoops tonight.”

Trichkovski hits a free kick well wide.

It’s been a fairly quiet last few minutes. Cork will want to up the tempo and control the game more.

Good play from Maguire on the right.

He finds space out wide and his cross just misses Buckley.

Maguire beats his man before his cross is intercepted.

The Preston-bound striker has looked very dangerous in recent minutes.

They’re under way at Tallaght Stadium…

Taulemesse catches McNulty as the goalkeeper gathers a shot at the second attempt.

The Cork goalkeeper receives treatment but looks like he’ll be okay.

Rovers begin brightly.

Ronan Finn has just put a shot over the bar.

A cross narrowly eludes the onrushing Taulemesse as the visitors break.

Larnaca have looked dangerous on the counter-attack at times.

Rovers haven’t had it all their own way in Tallaght.

Madden has had to head off the line to stop a free kick finding the net.

Brandon Miele gets the fans on their feet.

He bursts forward towards the box, before shooting just over.

Rovers have been the more threatening side in recent minutes.

Madden and Shaw have both gone close with efforts for the hosts.

It’s been quite a subdued last few minutes as half-time approaches at Turner’s Cross.

0-0 would by no means be a disastrous result for the Irish side, but they would ideally like to take some sort of a lead with them to Cyprus.

HALF-TIME: CORK 0-0 AEK LARNACA

0-0 at half-time at Turner’s Cross in what has been a scrappy affair.

It’s been a fairly even game so far.

Sean Maguire has threatened to do something special sporadically, while the visitors have had a few promising moments on the counter-attack, but clear-cut chances have been few and far between.

As they prepare to attack the Shed End in the second half, Cork are in need of some inspiration against opponents who have looked relatively resolute at the back so far.

SHAMROCK ROVERS 0-1 MB (MEBRAHTU 34)

Here’s Aaron Gallagher on the opening goal at Tallaght…

“A glorious cross from Tomas Prikryl sees Golgol Tedros Mebrahtu glance a powerful header past Tomer Chencinski who came to punch the ball clear.

“The goal has come following a quiet period in the game, after Rovers had a decent chance at the other end following some trickery from Graham Burke.

“The atmosphere is subdued in Tallaght Stadium as Rovers got off to a poor start.

“Boleslav have looked threatening in patches, however it had been an even contest until this point.

“The away goal is a major setback for the Hoops, coming 10 minutes before the break.”

HALF-TIME: SHAMROCK ROVERS 0-1 MB

The second half is under way at Turner’s Cross…

Dooley hammers the ball away nervously after Trichkovski creates panic with a flick-on in the box.

This game remains very finely balanced.

Here’s Aaron Gallagher’s half-time report…

“Half-time in Tallaght Stadium and the mood is downtrodden. It is not the best of attendances for this Europa League qualifier and while the home support did their best to get behind their team and create an atmosphere, they were silenced after 35 minutes when Boleslav turned on the style to score the opener with a fine cross and header combination.

“Rovers, to their credit, have had their chances. A Simon Madden volley dipped just over the crossbar and Ronan Finn shot a long-distance effort over the crossbar. Gary Shaw came closest with a fine strike, which was just too close to goalkeeper Jakub Divis.

“Boleslav have not been world-beaters but winger Tomas Prikryl, who got the assist for Golgol Tedros Mebrahtu’s goal, has been a constant menace. Rovers will need to step up their game and force themselves on this tie if they stand any chance of making it through.”

A set piece finds Sheppard at the back post, but he just can’t steer his header on target.

Cork look a little short of inspiration at the moment.

Maguire goes down under a challenge from Mojsov.

The ref waves play on and it’s hard to argue with that, as it would have been a very soft penalty.

SHAMROCK ROVERS 1-1 MB (BURKE 48)

Here’s Aaron Gallagher on that Rovers goal…

“What an absolutely stunning goal and Rovers are level! The crowd go wild in Tallaght Stadium, as that man again Graham Burke shows his class.

“The ball falls to the former Aston Villa youngster 20 yards from goal and he dips an outrageous volley right into the top corner. Think Luis Garcia versus Juventus in 2005, only better! 1-1 and it’s game on.”

CORK 0-1 LARNACA (TRUYOLS 69)

That’s a blow for Cork.

A corner into the box wasn’t dealt with and fell to the defender, who made no mistake with his finish.

Larnaca are doing well to kill the game now.

They’re holding on to possession and frustrating a tired-looking Cork side.

Larnaca make a change.

Joan Tomás is replaced by Tete.

SHAMROCK ROVERS 1-2 MB (MEBRAHTU 62)

Griffin replaces Sheppard, as Cork go in search of a much-needed goal.

Here’s what Aaron Gallagher has to say on another setback for Rovers.

“Rovers looked to be getting right back into this tie, but now it seems like it could be slipping away from them altogether. Like so many times in this game, Boleslav go from zero to hundred, turning on the style and hitting Rovers when they least expect it.

“Some quick passing on the edge of the box sees captain Marek Patejovsky feed a neat ball to Patriozio Stronati. He crosses at the front post, where that man again Gogol Tedros Mebrahtu is on hand to prod the ball home.

“Two away goals for the visitors and Rovers are looking defeated.”

Cork are starting to press the visitors back.

They have been disappointing in the final third though, and haven’t tested the opposition goalkeeper enough.

McCormack dives in on his man and gets penalised by the referee as a result.

There is a real sense of frustration palpable at Turner’s Cross now.

Larnaca have been very good at killing this game since taking the lead.

Any chance to slow the game down, they’ve taken.

Maguire bursts through on goal but the defender makes a last-ditch tackle.

Moments later, a corner goes in, and the ball bounces around the box before the visitors finally get it clear.

FULL-TIME: CORK 0-1 LARNACA

So that’s that for Cork this evening.

Maguire and O’Connor’s final home game has ended in disappointment.

It was a cagey game, with the visitors producing a tactically intelligent display, while they rarely looked like conceding.

Cork simply looked short of ideas, and aside from the odd Maguire burst of acceleration, they struggled to create chances.

The League of Ireland table toppers will consequently need to be much better in next week’s second leg.

SHAMROCK ROVERS 1-3 MB (CHRAMOSTA 87)

That’s surely that as far as Rovers are concerned.

Chramosta has given his side further breathing space ahead of next week’s second leg in the Czech Republic.

SHAMROCK ROVERS 2-3 MB (BURKE 90)

FULL-TIME: SHAMROCK ROVERS 2-3 MB

What an incredible finish!

Burke gets his second of the night, blasting the ball home inside the area to give Rovers hope ahead of next week’s second leg.

The final-time whistle sounds shortly thereafter.

That’s something at least for Rovers to cling onto.

Right, that’s all from me for tonight.

Thanks for reading and commenting.

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