Shamrock Rovers 3-1 Shkupi
Good evening, and welcome along to our live coverage of tonight’s European clash between Shamrock Rovers and FC Shkupi.
The Hoops welcome the North Macedonian side to Tallaght Stadium for the first leg of their Europa League third qualifying round tie.
Kick-off is 8pm, and it’s live on LOI TV. Stick with us for updates.
Let’s start with a look at the teams.
Rovers boss Stephen Bradley said that the injured Jack Byrne was ’50/50′ yesterday — he doesn’t make the bench tonight, but a strong XI remains in situ.
Shamrock Rovers: Alan Mannus; Sean Gannon, Sean Hoare, Lee Grace; Ronan Finn (captain); Gary O’Neill, Chris McCann; Andy Lyons; Dylan Watts, Graham Burke; Rory Gaffney.
FC Shkupi: Kristijan Naumovski (captain); Angelce Timovski, Senghor Faustin, Gagi Margvelashvili, Besir Demiri; Walid Hamidi, Queven, Diene Albert Lamane, Renaldo Cephas; Freddy Alvarez, Sundat Adetunji.
🚨 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 🚨
— Shamrock Rovers FC ☘️ (@ShamrockRovers) August 4, 2022
🟢 Gannon in defence
🟢 Watts in attack
🟢 Gaffney leads the line
𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐬 ☘️#RoversInEurope pic.twitter.com/OAmmzkeaiN
A quick look at the other Irish sides out in Europe tonight: it’s still 0-0 for St Pat’s at CSKA, and Sligo Rovers are 4-0 down away to Viking. Switch to Paul Fennessy’s Europa Conference League match tracker for further updates on both.
Back to what you came here for, though: the build-up in Tallaght.
Gavin Cooney’s match preview sets the scene nicely, and explains what could follow for Bradley’s crew in Europe:
Rovers are once again on the cusp of groups stage football in Europe, just as they were a year ago. Having been knocked out of the Champions League by Slovan Bratislava, Rovers dropped into the Conference League qualifiers and having beaten Teuta of Albania, were fancied to progress through the play-off round before being sucker-punched by Flora Tallinn.
Rovers have spent the last few weeks wending their way around Europe again, and tonight they welcome KF Shkupi of North Macedonia to Tallaght for the first leg of their Europa League third qualifying round tie. Progress in this tie will guarantee them a spot in the Conference League group phase at worst, as that’s the consolation prize for losing the Europa League playoff against Qarabag or Ferencvaros. (Should they lose against Shkupi, they will play off against either FC Ballkani of Kosovo or Klaksvíkar of the Faroe Islands for a spot in the Conference League.)
It’s been a weird auld day, with Shkupi slamming the Irish government and vowing to avenge the ‘evil’ of being forced to fly via Shannon Airport — read more here — but the pre-match mood for Rovers seems good.
The teams are out on the pitch, as news filters through that St Pat’s have secured a famous 1-0 win over CSKA in Sofia. Elsewhere, Sligo Rovers fell to a 5-1 defeat to Viking. You can read all about both in the coming minutes on The42. Kick-off imminent in Tallaght.
KICK-OFF: We’re underway, Graham Burke kicking proceedings off.
3 mins - Even Stevens early on as both teams settle in, no major moments to report just yet.
6 mins – Shkupi are pushing well up on Rovers, with potential gaps in behind for the hosts to potentially exploit. The commentators on LOI TV have noted a strange breeze in Tallaght, one Shkupi are struggling to adapt to, playing a few long balls over the end line.
10 mins - Lee Grace took a knock there after standing firm to stop Walid Hamidi. He won a free and is good to go. Rovers get the ball moving nicely, enjoying a decent spell of possession before Diene blocks a Dylan Watts shot. He’s been very good for the visitors so far.
On the next attack, Chris McCann plays a nice through ball, but ultimately it runs out. Rory Gaffney is forced out wide then after finding himself in a decent position, another half-chance going astray.
PENALTY for Rovers! Graham Burke is taken down by Diene.
Shamrock Rovers 1-0 Shkupi (Burke, 13)
An excellent finish from Burke, a good start from Rovers. Shkupi ‘keeper Kristijan Naumovski went the same way, but there’s no stopping Burke’s powerful effort.
16 mins - It’s fair to say Shkupi hadn’t really started, but they’re up and running now after laying siege on the Rovers goal. Bradley’s side dealt with everything thrown at them accordingly, Alan Mannus producing a big save at one point.
20 mins - The first card of the game as Renaldo Cephas sees yellow for a needless challenge while running at Lee Gannon down the left. At the other end, Burke flashes a decent effort across goal, he’ll be disappointed not to have gotten that one on target.
24 mins - Burke is brought down after a rash tackle from Diene out on the left. Dylan Watts sends the free-kick in towards the back post, Gaffney does well to find himself some space and create a half-chance but the ‘keeper punches it away.
27 mins - Shkupi enjoy a spell of possession but there’s not a whole pile of movement up top. Sundat Adetunji gets away at one point, but Gannon gets there first and the Shkupi man holds him back in frustration and concedes a free.
GOAL! Shamrock Rovers 2-0 Shkupi (Watts, 29)
What a team goal that is, Dylan Watts finishing it in style. It all came from Mannus, there was excellent work from Gaffney in the build-up and Watts slots home brilliantly to double Rovers’ lead.
31 mins - A desperate tackle there on Gary O’Neill and tempers flare thereafter. Walid Hamidi is booked, O’Neill left in pain but he’s okay to carry on.
36 mins - Rovers are playing with plenty of confidence, Bradley with his tactics spot on and his team showing huge hunger and intent. Shkupi have struggled to get a foothold on the game, really, but as I write, Mannus has just produced two more big saves — the first on Angelce Timovski’s effort.
40 mins - Save at the other end, as Burke is kept out. A good effort, but an equally good save to stop him. It comes after an interception and more good work from Gaffney; the two sides operating at completely different tempos, and Shkupi very slack at times.
43 mins - Hamidi may take it easy, he’s already on a yellow but popping up with a few questionable challenges here and there. This time, though, he’s fouled by O’Neill, who sees yellow himself, after doing well to drive in from the left-hand side.
The free is from a central position 30 yards out, Freddy Alvarez gets it on target after a short run-up, and Mannus pushes it out for a corner, which nothing comes off.
HALF-TIME: Shamrock Rovers 2-0 Shkupi
An excellent first-half display from Shamrock Rovers, it must be said. A Graham Burke penalty and a team goal, finished expertly by Dylan Watts, have the hosts in the driving seat at Tallaght Stadium. Alan Mannus has had to made a few good saves but, in all, Rovers are well on top.
So far so good ☘️👊#RoversInEurope pic.twitter.com/2P3bOIIEhP
— Shamrock Rovers FC ☘️ (@ShamrockRovers) August 4, 2022
Second half: Shkupi get us going again.
47 mins - One half-time change for Shkupi as Vladica Brdarovski comes on at right-back, and Timovski switches to the left.
Back to the action, and there are calls for a Shkupi handball as Rovers attack, but the referee lets it go. Andy Lyons has a go shortly after, it’s on target but the ‘keeper saves.
49 mins - Rovers are looking to turn the screw here, Lyons and Burke both looking to create something. First, Lyons tries to play a clever through ball, but it’s intercepted, and then, Burke flashes an excellent cross across the box, but there’s no one there.
51 mins - A couple of more good saves from Mannus and a headed goal-line clearance from Sean Hoare as Shkupi bite back; Hamidi, Alvarez and Adetunji looking to pull one back. A much better spell from the visitors.
54 mins - Substitue Vladica Brdarovski goes into the book for a tackle on Watts after good work in the build-up from Gaffney and Burke.
The latter is now coming off, looking like he pulled up at one point beforehand with a hamstring issue. Precautionary measure, it seems, as Aaron Greene comes on.
57 mins - Gary O’Neill lets fly from distance, the ball bouncing favourably in his favour and catching it on the half volley. It looks good, the Shkupi ‘keeper dives, but O’Neill’s effort takes a deflection and goes out for a corner. Decent delivery, but nothing of note follows.
60 mins - Alvarez has an effort, but it’s blocked on the edge of the box. McCann limps off just after, he was part of that scramble but didn’t appear to block it, so it may well be a muscle injury. Richie Towell comes in, McCann given an ovation as he departs after an excellent showing.
64 mins - Mannus with a superb save, denying a powerful effort from Queven. The Rovers’ ‘keeper has been excellent tonight, maintaining his concentration levels with little to do at times, but phenomenal when called upon.
Double change for Shkupi: Pepi Gorgiev and Ali Adem come in for Alvarez and Adetunji.
68 mins - Watts goes close, denied by a decent save. Towell finds him in space on the edge of the box with a clever pass, but Naumovski does well to keep the shot out.
It’s fair to say Shkupi have come back into this game and are looking a little brighter, but there’s a feeling there’s more goals for the taking here for Rovers.
72 mins – Another excellent stop from Mannus, and the crowd LOVE that one. The ball falls kindly to Ali Adem after breaking in the box, he’s one-on-one and it must be said, his effort should be better, but Mannus reads him brilliantly.
73 mins - Triple substitution for Rovers – Neil Farrugia, Sean Kavanagh and Aidomo Emakhu come in; Gaffney, Watts and Finn drop out. Their jobs are done for the night.
GOAL! Shamrock Rovers 2-1 Shkupi (Queven, 76)
What a goal, that is. The Brazilian likes letting go from distance, and he does that here with a powerful effort to beat Mannus. It moves about in the air, and is a spectacular finish into the top corner.
79 mins - Shkupi are right back in this with their tails up. Before that goal, Andy Lyons saw yellow, though it’s unclear what it was for, and a team-mate follows him into the book afterwards, with a challenge most likely born out of frustration.
82 mins - Shkupi are piling on the pressure here, pinning Rovers back. The defence sit deep and stay solid, Mannus with another save or two, urging calm.
84 mins - Hamidi is gone, after a really poor, rash challenge. Red card: he had played on the edge on a yellow at times, though improved his ways in the second half. There’s no denying that one, though, as he lunges in on O’Neill again.
Rovers can breathe a sigh of relief, hoping going down to 10 might take the sting out of Shkupi’s tail.
87 mins - A lengthy stoppage there as the Shkupi ‘keeper is down getting treatment. Looks like he may have gotten winded, but boos ring around the ground amidst potential time-wasting.
The LOI TV crew name Chris McCann as their Man of the Match, as an attendance of 6,455 is confirmed in Tallaght.
90 mins - Shkupi bring in recent arrival Xhelil Abdulla, as the player making way, goal-scorer Queven, takes his time in doing so. That’s a defender for an attacking player, suggesting they’ll play for the 2-1 loss.
Six minutes additional time to be played.
90+3 mins - Farrugia cuts in from the right on the edge of the box, looks to wrap his left foot around the ball and find the far top-corner, but it drifts wide. The Shkupi shot-stopper runs the clock down some more to boos, but we’re back in action.
95 mins – The perfect ball is played into the box for Aidomo Emakhu, but it’s taken off his boot. Rovers looking to work the third goal here, Hoare with an excellent effort. It looks like it’s going over, but the ‘keeper gets his fingertips to it.
GOAL! Shamrock Rovers 3-1 Shkupi (O’Neill, 90+7)
What a goal that is from Gary O’Neill! The last kick of the ball in the end, and Tallaght Stadium erupts. It ultimately came off the corner from that Hoare shot, the ball eventually played out to O’Neill on the edge of the box, who curls it into the top corner.
They’ll thank the ‘keeper’s time-wasting in the end, with Grace deserving a big mention for his work in the build-up to that killer blow, a dagger for Shkupi.
FULL-TIME: Shamrock Rovers 3-1 Shkupi
Another great European night at Tallaght Stadium. Goals from Graham Burke (penalty), Dylan Watts and Gary O’Neill put Rovers happily in the driving seat, as they head to North Macedonia for the next challenge.
That’s all from us on the liveblog. Gavin Cooney was at Tallaght Stadium for us, and his report will follow in the coming minutes, along with the usual reaction and analysis.
Thanks for tuning in, have a good one!
