Shamrock Rovers' Roberto Lopes takes a shot at goal despite Saku Savolainen of KuPS.

Shamrock Rovers v KuPS, Conference League play-off

Relive all the action as it happened in Tallaght.

Shamrock Rovers 1-1 KuPS

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Shamrock Rovers’ crucial Uefa Conference League play-off first-leg with Finnish champions KuPS.

Kick-off in Tallaght is at 8pm, and we’ll bring you all the action as it happens.

KICK-OFF

We’re underway in Tallaght.

2mins: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 KuPS

Graham Burke works the ball into a nice position on the edge of the box, he tries to drag the ball back onto his left foot but is knocked to the ground. The Rovers man wants a free but play goes on.

6mins: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 KuPS

Some confusion at the back from Rovers and KuPs have the first corner of the game.

The visitors go short before whipping in a dangerous ball, which Rovers manage to clear.

12mins: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 KuPS

KuPS have dragged a tame shot from distance wide, but Rovers enjoying most of the ball and looking the more dangerous at the moment. Not a huge amount of pace to the game just yet.

In other news, Troy Parrott’s move to Real Betis has just been confirmed with this, em, unusual announcement video.

17mins: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 KuPS

KuPS give the ball away somewhat carelessly and Watts goes driving down the right. He puts a decent ball in, but a defender gets a foot in to clear it.

22mins: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 KuPS

Rovers just lacking that final pass at the moment. Lopes knocks a long ball forward, but it misses it’s target and bounces out for a goalkick.

24mins: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 KuPS

Rovers have a free wide on the right. Byrne whips a good ball in but Grace is just beaten to it in the air.

The home side recycle the ball back to Byrne, and the next ball is collected by KuPS goalkeeper Johannes Kreidl.

 

28mins: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 KuPS

More Rovers pressure leads to Stevens getting a good ball in from the left, Afolabi controls under pressure and Sobowale fires well over the bar.

30mins: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 KuPS

Freekick for KuPS from a tight angle to the right of the box. Rovers set a two-man wall, the ball is lofted to the back and Rovers head it away. It falls to a KuPS player who plays it inside first time, before Armah sends an effort flying over the crossbar.

35mins: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 KuPS

Rovers put a couple more balls into the box with no joy. They keep possession, and from the edge of the box Burke creates a bit of space and sends a right foot shot straight at the goalkeeper.

36mins: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 KuPS

Rovers win their first corner of the game as Sobowale sees a shot deflected out.

Again, nothing wrong with Byrne’s delivery but no Rovers player can make a proper connection and it’s out for a goal-kick.

40mins: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 KuPS

KuPS poor on the ball again, leading to Fitzgerald bombing down the left. 

His pullback doesn’t reach a Rovers man but they keep the pressure on before a low drilled cross is knocked out for another Rovers corner.

Byrne sends it deep and at the second attempt Lopes’ shot it deflected away, and KuPS clear.

45mins: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 KuPS

Byrne stands over a free about 30 yards out in a central position. He clips it to the back post, Lopes keeps the ball in play, and Rovers end up going all the way back to the goalkeeper.

One minute of additional time to play here.

HALF TIME: Shamrock Rovers 0-0 KuPS

The second half has just kicked off.

Both teams appear to be unchanged.

GOAL! Shamrock Rovers (Stevens) 1-0 KuPS

50mins: Shamrock Rovers 1-0 KuPS

It’s a messy one, but Rovers lead!

Byrne’s free kick is knocked to the edge of the box by Kriedl in the KuPS goal, where a looping header sends the ball back in and off the crossbar. In the scramble, Kriedl appears to trip over his own player and Stevens is alert to knock the ball in. 

57mins: Shamrock Rovers 1-0 KuPS

KuPS on the attack but Sobowale does really well to track back and make an important tackle.

KuPS come again, win a corner, but Burke rises to get a head on it and Byrne is on hand to clear.

58mins: Shamrock Rovers 1-0 KuPS

Another KuPS corner but Rovers deal with it comfortably at the near post.

 

61mins: Shamrock Rovers 1-0 KuPS

Byrne whips in another free from the wide-right position, but the keeper is strong to punch the ball away. Dylan Watts sends it back but there’s no Rovers man on hand to take advantage.

64mins: Shamrock Rovers 1-0 KuPS

Nice interplay between Watts and Byrne, Watts works hard to get a cross in but it’s well covered by the KuPS defender.

66mins: Shamrock Rovers 1-0 KuPS

Burke breaks forward, potentially has a pass on to his right but decides to go himself and hits a low shot to the right, which is saved. Decent opportunity.

69mins: Shamrock Rovers 1-0 KuPS

Stephen Bradley makes a triple substitution:

Michael Noonan, Aaron Green and Danny Mandroiu are coming in.

Graham Burke, Jonathon Afolabi and Jack Byrne the players making way.

Mandroiu’s entrance is delayed due to the switch taking too long, so Rovers will briefly play with 10.

71mins: Shamrock Rovers 1-0 KuPS

Chance for the visitors, but Parzyszek blasts over from the edge of the box. Bit of a rushed first-time effort when he probably had more time than he realised.

OFF THE POST!

Mandroiu hits the right post with a low shot from a tight angle that catches the keeper off guard. A clever effort, so close to goal number two for Rovers.

78mins: Shamrock Rovers 1-0 KuPS

And close at the other end!

Luyeye-Lutumba gets in behind the Rovers defence and is one-on-one, but under pressure and with McGinty closing the angle he clips it wide. That’s the closest the visitors have come to finding an equaliser.

80mins: Shamrock Rovers 1-0 KuPS

Another switch for the Hoops as Adam Brennan replaces Olunatunmise Sobowale.

Someone on the KuPS bench has just been booked. No idea who, or why, to be honest.

GOAL – Shamrock Rovers 1-1 KuPS (Parzyszek)

85mins: Shamrock Rovers 1-1 KuPS 

KuPS are level. The visitors put two ball into the box which Rovers struggle to properly clear. They then whip a good ball in and Parzyszek does really well to nip in flick it toward goal, where McGinty gets a hand to the ball but can’t keep it out.

The clock has just ticked past the 90, with four minutes of stoppage time to be played.

92mins: Shamrock Rovers 1-1 KuPS

Rovers trying to find a late winner. Brennan gets a shot off but he’s off-balance and can’t get enough power behind it.

FULLTIME: Shamrock Rovers 1-1 KuPS

So a draw for Rovers, with KuPS finding a late equaliser following a close game between two even sides. The second leg takes place next Thursday.

David Sneyd will have a full match report and all the reaction from Tallaght on The 42 shortly.

Thanks for joining our live coverage tonight!

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