Well, that’s all from us, folks. Thanks for joining us, and we hope you enjoyed the coverage.

We look forward to having you with us again soon. Until next time, good luck!

KuPS 1-0 Shamrock Rovers (KuPS win 2-1 on aggregate)

And that is that for Stephen Bradley’s side.

A most unfortunate own goal for substitute Graham Burke sees the Finland side win 2-1 on aggregate. The European dream is over for Shamrock Rovers, but they put up a huge fight today.

After struggling to get up to the pace of the game in the first half, the Irish visitors came out with true intent in the second half. Sobowale almost gave them the lead when the ball came in at the back post.

Aaron Greene also came close a few minutes later as his powerful shot on the turn produced an impressive save from Kreidl.

Disaster struck when the ball ended up in the net off the head of Graham Burke after 75 minutes. The league and cup champions were unable to find the equaliser.

Full-Time! KuPS 1-0 Shamrock Rovers (KuPS win 2-1 on aggregate)

92 mins: KuPS 1-0 Shamrock Rovers

Yellow card for McGinty after coming out to try and clear the ball. But he commits the foul, and that should be that.

90 mins: KuPS 1-0 Shamrock Rovers

Offside is called on Burke as the ball is floated in. He gets involved with a KuPS opponent as they trade some verbals. 

Three minutes of added time have been announced.

89 mins: KuPS 1-0 Shamrock Rovers

Another free for Rovers as we head towards injury time. Byrne to set up the delivery.

88 mins: KuPS 1-0 Shamrock Rovers

SO CLOSE!

Rovers inches away from an equaliser there. Enda Stevens cuts it back at the back post. All it needed was someone in a Hoops jersey to get the final touch. But it’s KuPS goalkeeper Kreidl who helps the ball over the bar.

Was that their last chance?

87 mins: KuPS 1-0 Shamrock Rovers

Brennan and Fitzgerald work the ball around before Rovers are forced back. Fitzgerald then draws a foul from Magassa in a decent position. Rovers need to work something from this.

Jack Byrne to take.

84 mins: KuPS 1-0 Shamrock Rovers

Rovers have a throw in their own half as they look to build again. They work the ball up to Brennan who tries to find Sobowale with a cross. But it’s overcooked and KuPS have it back.

Time is ticking away.

82 mins: KuPS 1-0 Shamrock Rovers

Shamrock Rovers changes: Michael Noonan in for Greene and Watts makes way for Adam Brennan.

78 mins: KuPS 1-0 Shamrock Rovers

Disaster for Rovers.

A scramble in the box sees Graham Burke head the ball past McGinty while he was off balance. Such an unfortunate thing to happen to the substitute.

With just over 10 minutes to go, can Rovers react and get the equaliser?

GOAL! KuPS 1-0 Shamrock Rovers (Own Goal)

73 mins: KuPS 0-0 Shamrock Rovers 

Another yellow card for Rovers. This time it’s for Pico Lopes. Again, it’s a cynical foul to take the sting out of KuPS attack. He’s taking one for the team there when the game is finely balanced.

69 mins: KuPS 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

WIDE!

Parzyszek with a half-volley that skids along the ground and just goes wide. A huge let-off there for Rovers.

That opportunity came after a lot of patient play as KuPS stretched the play and moved the ball over and back to try to poke the holes in the Rovers defence.

65 mins: KuPS 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

Yellow card for Matt Healy as KuPS try to counter quickly. The pace has certainly gone up in this game, and Rovers are clearly making their opponents sweat. 

KuPS needed two attempts to clear the danger from a Rovers corner just before that.

63 mins: KuPS 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

Shamrock Rovers changes: Afolabi and O’Sullivan make way for Graham Burke and Jack Byrne.

60 mins: KuPS 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

A speculative effort from outside the box trails way off target. But Bradley will be much happier with that as his side starts to get on more ball and start creating more chances.

59 mins: KuPS 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

It was Aaron Greene who had that chance, releasing a powerful shot on the turn after controlling a pass in the penalty area.

This is much more encouraging from the Irish side. And they have a free coming up now.

57 mins: KuPS 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

SAVE!

Rovers almost in again. Kreidl manages to keep it out.

56 mins: KuPS 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

Some chaotic play in the Rovers half before a clearance eventually arrives. Armah is then caught in an offside position, so it will be a free out for Stephen Bradley’s side.

52 mins: KuPS 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

There’s still plenty of time to go, but if this ends in a draw, we will go to extra-time and penalties if required. 

52 mins: KuPS 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

Sobowale continues to be a lively option for Rovers. He tries to send in a cross, but it’s an easy catch for the goalkeeper.

Meanwhile, Matt Healy requires treatment. It looks like it’s a facial injury.

51 mins: KuPS 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

Jyry almost gets in for KuPS after a ball in over the top, but he’s snuffed out at the edge of the box.

Both sides looking dangerous in the early stages of the second half.

49 mins: KuPS 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

Rovers show great intent with their first attack. Healy was the architect just inside the box. He sends it across to the back post where Sobowale tries to get a touch on it, but he just misses it.

Huge chance there.

Afolabi then needs to leave the pitch momentarily after taking a knock to the back of the leg. He seems determined to carry on though.

Second Half: KuPS 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

So, the scoreline on aggregate remains at 1-1 after a goalless first half of the second leg. No major opportunities to report for either side, but KuPS are enjoying more of the possession.

Shamrock Rovers also had that penalty call that was dismissed by VAR. Apart from that, it’s still all to play for in the second half.

Half-Time! KuPS 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

45 mins: KuPS 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

Pennanen sends in a cross to the back post. Rovers get the clearance away but KuPS have the ball away for one last attack.

45 mins: KuPS 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

One minute of added time has been announced.

43 mins: KuPS 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

A small bit of confusion as Antwi is also penalised. Sobowale takes another throw, and this one looks legitimate as Rovers try to get something out of this attack.

Things get a bit heated though as the referee calls in Dylan Watts and Gasc in for a chat to ease the tension.

Half-time is drawing near.

40 mins: KuPS 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

Sobowale takes a throw-in for Rovers, but he’s penalised for a foul throw and KuPS will come away again.

38 mins: KuPS 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

Great one-two play involving Armah opens Rovers up again just outside the penalty area. The visitors get back to kill off the danger, but they’re still living with that threat.

34 mins: KuPS 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

SAVE!

McGinty gets down to gather a shot from Savolainen. The game is still being played in Rovers’ half of the pitch, and they need to start getting on the attack again.

33 mins: KuPS 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

Petteri Pennanen sends it in but Rovers deal with it as Sobowale gets an important block in, and the ball takes a touch from a KuPS player on the way out for a goal kick. 

31 mins: KuPS 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

Another KuPS corner after Grace gets his body in front of a cross.

31 mins: KuPS 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

McGinty makes a clean catch after the ball takes a deflection on the way.

28 mins: KuPS 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

The Finland side are starting to dominate possession. A yellow card is flashed at John O’Sullivan as a free is awarded out wide to KuPS. They’ll look to test out McGinty again here with a dangerous delivery.

27 mins: KuPS 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

Rovers come under some pressure as Gasc and Armah find the gaps. Antwi then winds up a shot from distance. It goes wide but again, McGinty was at full stretch as the ball sailed in.

21 mins: KuPS 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

Inviting cross from the corner but the referee awards a free out as Lee Grace is deemed to be too close to the goalkeeper while trying to gather the ball.

20 mins: KuPS 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

Brilliant run from Sobowale as he tries to cut inside the KuPS danger area. He’ll settle for the corner.

18 mins: KuPS 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

MISS!

Piotr Parzyszek unleashes a powerful volley from the edge of the penalty box. McGinty is at full stretch, but the ball flashes wide.

16 mins: KuPS 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

NO PENALTY!

VAR feels there’s no case to answer for. There’s another moment of panic in the KuPS are from the corner, but they manage to keep the ball out.

14 mins: KuPS 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

VAR PENALTY CHECK!

Edward McGinty thumps the ball up and Afolabi controls it. Rovers move the ball into the penalty box and the cheers go up for a handball as the ball is put out for a corner from a delivery by Will Fitzgerald. 

11 mins: KuPS 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

Another corner for KuPS after two crucial blocks at the end of some quick, attacking play. They decide to go short and end up bringing the ball back into their own half.

Goalkeeper Johannes Kreidl receives the ball in the middle to start them up again.

8 mins: KuPS 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

Rovers create their first chance of the game as the ball is cut back to Jonathan Afolabi. But he can’t get his footing right and the ball gets stripped away.

6 mins: KuPS 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

Some good interplay from KuPS cuts Rovers open along the wing. Matt Healy gets back to cut the ball out for the first corner of the game.

It’s a big delivery but the hosts don’t create aything from the set-piece.

3 mins: KuPS 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

Tunmise Sobowale heads the ball away from a KuPS cross. Rovers go on the march, but Cory O’Sullivan goes in too hard with a challenge, and it’s a free out.

1 min: KuPS 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

And we are off the mark in Finland. 

Kick-Off! KuPS v Shamrock Rovers

The teams are heading out now. Almost ready to get going!

Criticism of Rovers for being unable to rise to the challenges provided by opponents on the continent has grown legs as Stephen Bradley’s side dropped from Champions League to Europa League to Conference League football.

Rovers’ away form since a fine 2-1 win against Santa Clara of Portugal at the same stage last season suggests they will be up against it. They have lost five and drawn just one of their last six games on their travels with Bradley describing the 5-1 defeat to Egnatia of Albania in the third qualifying round of the Europa League as the worst performance of his 10-year reign.

But Bradley has dismissed the notion that they are guilty of any complacency:

“I think it is a lazy opinion. Our performances in Europe this year have been some of the best we have ever had. Look at what we have done. Look at [the goals] we have scored. Look at everything around the game. It has just been basic errors that have cost us,” he said.

“We have had Albania, one really poor night, but other than that, it has been very, very good. From the outside, people say domestically you don’t get challenged but our standards come from within. In order to say that (you are not being challenged) you have to understand how hard it is to stay at the top.

If you can’t read the teams in the graphics above, you can see them again here:

KuPS: Kreidl; Savolainen, Magassa, Nuhu, Antwi; Gasc, Pennanen, Luyeye-Lutumba, Jyry, Armah; Parzyszek.

Shamrock Rovers: McGinty; Grace, Lopes, Stevens; Sobowale, Watts, Healy, O’ Sullivan, Fitzgerald; Greene, Afolabi.

If you would like to watch today’s game, it’s available to stream on Solidsport.

The big news for Rovers fans is that Danny Mandroiu has been ruled out through injury. He has travelled to London with teammate Danny Grant to visit a specialist regarding a hamstring injury.

Striker John McGovern is also absent but did travel to the game as he continues his recovery.

And here is the KuPS line-up for today’s second leg:

Kuopion Palloseuran kokoonpano tänään! 💯

Kokoonpanon tarjoaa Trube 🤝 pic.twitter.com/YJBSiWZJM9

— Kuopion Palloseura (@KuPS1923) August 27, 2026

Here is how Shamrock Rovers will be lining out today:

🟢 TEAM NEWS 🟢

How we line up against KuPs today 👊🏼#RoversInEurope pic.twitter.com/GSJGThyzoa

— Shamrock Rovers FC (@ShamrockRovers) August 27, 2026

The Shamrock Rovers team during their warm-up. Mika Kylmaniemi / INPHO Mika Kylmaniemi / INPHO / INPHO

Hello and welcome to our coverage of the second leg of this Uefa Conference League playoff tie between KuPS and Shamrock Rovers.

The score is currently 1-1 after last week’s first leg meeting in Dublin. And Stephen Bradley’s charges are in Finland today hoping for a result that will see them through to the group stage of the Conference League.

It would be a fourth group/league phase campaign in five years for the Premier Division side, and kick-off is coming up at 4pm.

We’ll have team line-ups for you shortly so do stay with us.