Good evening, and welcome along to our second Uefa Conference League liveblog of the day.

As Shelbourne trail 2-0 in the closing minutes of their match at AZ Alkmaar, Shamrock Rovers prepare to welcome Shakhtar Donetsk to Tallaght Stadium.

Kick-off is 8pm, with the action live on Premier Sports 1. We’ll keep you up to date right here.

Team news

Here’s how Shamrock Rovers are named to start…

Your Hoops XI to face Shakhtar this evening 👊🏼☘️#RoversInEurope pic.twitter.com/n9H8utKxH3

— Shamrock Rovers FC (@ShamrockRovers) November 27, 2025

And here’s the Shakhtar Donetsk XI…

🧡 Our line-up for the @Conf_League match vs Shamrock Rovers.

⏰ 22:00 (21:00 CET)#Shakhtar | #UECL #ShamrockShakhtar pic.twitter.com/c03DTdgv1Y

— FC SHAKHTAR ENGLISH (@FCShakhtar_eng) November 27, 2025

Uefa reckon the teams will line out like this…

Uefa. Uefa.

Shamrock Rovers have just one point from their opening three Uefa Conference League games, having drawn away to AEK Athens last time out.

Stephen Bradley’s side return to action for the first time since completing their domestic double in the FAI Cup final on 9 November — they now bid to progress to the knockout stages in Europe.

They are considerable underdogs against Shakhtar tonight, but will hope to take something from the experienced Ukrainian outfit on home soil.

Close to 9,000 tickets had been sold, as of yesterday. 

Some pre-match reading from Paul Fennessy, who is at Tallaght Stadium for The 42 tonight. The usual report, reaction and analysis will follow.

• Shamrock Rovers set for big test against ‘the best team we’ve played this year’

• ‘I hope this finishes and people who live in Ireland can come back to Ukraine’

“Another big night against a top team,” is how Stephen Bradley sees this one.

“I think they’re the best team we’ve played this year, and I think we’ll see that tonight,” the Rovers boss told Premier Sports 1.

“At times it’s going to be difficult without the ball, but we’ll use the crowd and the energy and push at times. We need everything to go our way tonight.”

The Hoops are without Josh Honohan and Aaron McEneff, who are struggling with knocks, while Danny Mandroiu is a long-term absentee with an ACL injury.

“We trust the squad,” Bradley added. “Everybody’s experienced at this level.”

Both teams are out on the pitch, the Shakhtar players all wearing Ukranian flags around their shoulders. There seems to be a good crowd in Tallaght on a windy night at the foot of the Dublin Mountains.

KICK-OFF - Shakhtar get us underway at Tallaght Stadium.

2′ – SHR 0-0 SHK: Shakhtar, in their famous orange, enjoy a spell of possession from the off, before threatening. Rovers are forced into some early defending, with Pico Lopes turned, but they clear their lines and look to settle. 

5′ – SHR 0-0 SHK: Lively start, with Rovers coming into it. Ed McGinty drives the ball up the field, but Shakhtar are alert. Lucas Ferreira sees his shot blocked at the other end. Rovers have just won the first corner of the night.

7′ – SHR 0-0 SHK: Watts’ delivery causes problems in the box, but Shakhtar eventually clear their lines. A replay appears to show a potential Tobias handball, but doesn’t seem like it will be checked?

8′ – SHR 0-0 SHK: The wind is causing chaos, with corners at both ends. Shakhtar make a hames of a short corner routine, while Watts’ looping delivery is snuffed out at the other end.

11′ – SHR 0-0 SHK: It’s end to end here. A vital Rovers interception cuts out a dangerous Shakhtar attack, before they counter with Rory Gaffney impressing. The visitors soon have their second corner of the night, after a Pico Lopes block, and Rovers clear their lines.

15′ – SHR 0-0 SHK: Shakhtar just pinging the ball around, as they look to take control of proceedings. A long ball is miscued and goes all the way to McGinty. Grant tries to get at them down the right, but his cross is cut out and Shakhtar go again.

18′ – SHR 0-0 SHK: Shakhtar ‘keeper Fesiun comes waaaay out to clear a long ball, meant for Gaffney to chase down after a turnover in defence. Rovers awarded a free kick in a decent position wide right, but Watts’ delivery is comfortably claimed by Fesiun.  

A flag flashes up from Ukranian fans in the crowd: ‘Thank you, Éire.’

Were Shamrock Rovers unfortunate not to have been awarded a penalty here? ☘️

Shakhtar Donetsk's Vinicius Tobias handled the ball inside the box, but VAR didn't intervene ❌ pic.twitter.com/7oD1KkvPDZ

— Premier Sports Ireland (@PremSportsIRL) November 27, 2025

20′ – SHR 0-0 SHK: SAVE! McGinty stops an effort from close range with his leg to deny Elias. The subsequent corner is worked short originally, and Rovers hold firm.

Possession: Shakhtar 63% Rovers 37%.

22′ – SHR 0-0 SHK: DOUBLE GOALLINE CLEARANCE! Some last-gasp defending from Rovers, with Healy to the fore. Some brilliant football from Shakhtar, but Rovers keep them out.

GOAL! SHR 0-1 SHK (Elias ’23)

There we go. Shakhtar’s pressure eventually pays and they take the lead after a lovely team move. They link up brilliantly down the right, before the ball is dragged back to Kaua Elias who drills home.

26′ – SHR 0-1 SHK: Rovers look to respond immediately, but they’re pinged for offside. Shakhtar have their tails up now: Rovers will know they have to keep it tight for the next while, chances will present themselves on the counter.

Here’s a look at the goal…

The visitors lead in Tallaght 🟠

Kauã Elias with the opening goal following a nice move down the right wing 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/gW5rtGFHsA

— Premier Sports Ireland (@PremSportsIRL) November 27, 2025

30′ – SHR 0-1 SHK: Good defending from Shakhtar to keep Gaffney at bay, the route one ball again cut out. Another Rovers mistake there, Grant unable to keep the ball in as they play out from the back. We’re at the half-hour mark.

35′ – SHR 0-1 SHK: Shakhtar have been really impressive the last few minutes, moving the ball around at speed with rotations aplenty off it. Good defending from O’Sullivan, who looks to release Gaffney, but the Shakhtar ‘keeper comes way out to boot clear once more.

37′ – SHR 0-1 SHK: WIDE! McGovern heads just wide after a brilliant Grant cross, and an encouraging Rovers team move. Came on the counter, after good hold-up play from Gaffney and the ball was patiently worked from left to right and back in to McGovern.

39′ – SHR 0-1 SHK: GOALLINE CLEARANCE! Shakhtar’s Bondar denies McGovern on the line. Again came from quick ball to Gaffney and good work from the Galway man down the right: his delivery to McGovern was superb, McGovern had the ‘keeper beaten but Bondar came to the rescue.

42′ – SHR 0-1 SHK: Newertton with the latest of Shakhtar’s wild efforts. Good build-up, but his effort is well over the bar.

They launch another attack, O’Sullivan blocking Tobias’ cross as Shakhtar take their fourth corner of the night – which is headed clear by McGovern.

44′ – SHR 0-1 SHK: O’Sullivan with more brilliant defending, winning a free-kick to release some pressure just before half-time. It’s been all Shakhtar the last few minutes, without creating any real chances.

HALF-TIME: Shamrock Rovers 0-1 Shakhtar Donetsk

Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO

An entertaining enough first half in difficult conditions at Tallaght Stadium. Kauã Elias’s 23rd-minute goal is the difference on the scoreboard, with Shakhtar showing glimpses of real quality. Rovers weathered the storm and grew into the game: John McGovern going close just before the break will give them real encouragement. Rory Gaffney has been a bright spark, with chances presenting themselves on the counter. Big second half ahead.

Almost forgot about the early penalty shout: VAR didn’t intervene and the Premier Sports pundits agree it was the right result. What do you reckon?

Were Shamrock Rovers unfortunate not to have been awarded a penalty here? ☘️

Shakhtar Donetsk's Vinicius Tobias handled the ball inside the box, but VAR didn't intervene ❌ pic.twitter.com/7oD1KkvPDZ

— Premier Sports Ireland (@PremSportsIRL) November 27, 2025

Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO

Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO

SECOND-HALF - McGovern restarts the game for Rovers.

46′ – SHR 0-1 SHK: Gaffney goes to ground as Rovers launch an attack from the restart, but the referee waves play on. Shakhtar look to find their groove again early doors.

47′ – SHR 0-1 SHK: O’Sullivan, who has been excellent for Rovers at left-back, wins the ball back and finds McGovern long. The move breaks down, however, as he miscues his pass to Gaffney after good hold-up play.

48′ – SHR 0-1 SHK: McGovern’s long throw from the right causes problems, perhaps knocked on by Gaffney and beating practically everyone in the box before Shakhtar clear their lines. They coughed that up trying to play out, Rovers penning them in in the top right-hand corner of the stadium and forcing the throw-in.

52′ – SHR 0-1 SHK: A Rovers penalty call is waved on after Grant goes down in the box under pressure from the Shakhtar ‘keeper. Bradley sees yellow for his protests. We’ll bring you that replay once it lands on social media. Good restart from Rovers.

53′ – SHR 0-1 SHK: SAVE! Riznyk reacts well to punch a long-range Rovers shot clear, the ball spitting out after the corner. Good spell of pressure for the hosts.

55′ – SHR 0-1 SHK: McGovern’s latest long throw isn’t quite as threatening, but Rovers have come out fighting for the second half. Shakhtar haven’t got going yet. O’Sullivan gets a warning for a challenge after he gave the ball away and the visitors looked to counter at speed.

55′ – SHR 0-1 SHK: Nugent with a good block to deny Shakhtar’s latest shot, the Hoops defending in packs. Shakhtar have come back into it in the last few minutes.

60′ – SHR 0-1 SHK: SAVE! Brilliant reaction and stop from McGinty to deny goalscorer Elias, who tries to head home a cross from the left.

Rovers then go on the hunt at the other end, but it comes to nothing. Lopes steps up with a big covering tackle, the resulting corner ultimately comes to nothing. Grant looks to have conceded another corner with a block, but the referee points for a goalkick.

65′ – SHR 0-1 SHK: Shakhtar are moving the ball around again, staying patient as they look for an opening. Rovers digging in, they turn the ball over and Watts tries to play Gaffney in behind but it doesn’t work out. Movement on the Rovers bench, we could see a substitute or two…

68′ – SHR 0-1 SHK: Shakhtar’s latest effort, through Tobias from the edge of the box, goes well over.

Rovers triple substitution…

• Michael Noonan for McGovern 
• Graham Burke for Gaffney
• Connor Malley for Nugent

70′ – SHR 0-1 SHK: Shakhtar continue to prod and probe, but Rovers hold firm. They’ll hope their fresh legs can give them something different, with Burke and Noonan bringing pace and energy in the final third.

73′ - SHR 0-1 SHK: Shakhtar respond with a triple change of their own.

Shamrock Rovers' Roberto Lopes reacts. Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO

76′ – SHR 0-1 SHK: Lopes is shown a yellow card for an off-the-ball shove, joining his manager Bradley in the book.

GOAL! Shamrock Rovers 0-2 Shakhtar Donetsk (Yehor Nazaryna ’77)

Nazaryna, one of the substitutes, lets fly from the free-kick. The ball takes a nick and catches McGinty out, he can’t get a strong enough hand to it.

GOAL! Shamrock Rovers 0-3 Shakhtar Donetsk (Elias ’80)

Elias celebrates his second, turning home a corner, but there’s a VAR check underway…

NO GOAL! Shamrock Rovers 0-2 Shakhtar Donetsk

VAR chalks it off.

’84 – SHR 0-2 SHK: Shakhtar had really turned up the heat in the last few minutes, with McGinty producing another big save between the goals. The second being ruled out by VAR has given the home fans a boost. Can they pull one back?

GOAL! Shamrock Rovers 1-2 Shakhtar Donetsk (Conor Malley ’87)

YES, THEY CAN!!! 

A sublime finish from Connor Malley, lifting over the Shakhtar ‘keeper after brilliant work from Graham Burke down the right. The substitutes combine to great effect to set up a grandstand finish.

89′ – SHR 1-2 SHK: SAVE! McGinty with another big stop to keep Shakhtar out, as they capitalise on a poor Rovers throw-in. The subsequent corner is dealt with.

FIVE minutes added on.

90+2′ – SHR 1-2 SHK: Shakhtar have a penalty shout waved on amidst a frantic few minutes. Drama to the death in Tallaght!

90+3′ – SHR 1-2 SHK: A yellow card is flashed to the Shakhtar bench, with both managers now booked. Theirs is ex-Turkey international Arda Turan, whose former clubs include Atletico Madrid and Barcelona.

90+5′ – SHR 1-2 SHK: Rovers on the hunt for one last chance… but rather than McGinty launch it forward, he tries to play out. 

Shakhtar turn them over, and will be happy to see this one out.

FULL-TIME: Shamrock Rovers 1-2 Shakhtar Donetsk

Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO

All over in Tallaght Stadium, and it’s Shakhtar Donetsk celebrating after an entertaining, eventful game.

Disappointment for Rovers, who fall to a 2-1 defeat, and face an uphill battle if they are to progress to the knockout stages of the Uefa Conference League.

Paul Fennessy’s match report from Tallaght Stadium will be available to read on The 42 shortly, and much more coverage will follow, but that’s all from me. 

Thanks for following along – goodnight!