Rovers no match for rampant Russians

SADLY, no heroics from Shamrock Rovers on Irish football’s long-awaited debut in the group stages of European competition.

For Rubin Kazan, this probably felt like a routine night’s work but, while the visitors were well worthy of their 3-0 victory, Rovers are entitled to bemoan a sluggish start to both halves of the game which saw them ship two costly goals.

However, the Russian side could also afford to squander a penalty – as, indeed, did Rovers – before they put the matter beyond all doubt with a third goal on the hour mark.