Pat Fenlon wary as Shamrock Rovers miss key duo for Europa opener

Already missing the injured Keith Fahey, Shamrock Rovers begin their Europa League campaign in Luxembourg tonight (Stade Municipal Differdange, 6pm Irish time) without another experienced ex-international, Stephen McPhail.

The former Cardiff captain, who enjoyed runs to the Champions League and Uefa Cup semi-finals in his career with Leeds, strained a hamstring in Friday’s 2-1 win at Galway United.

While all of the squad, bar Sean O’Connor, who is in plaster after Achilles surgery, travelled on the team’s four-hour delayed charter yesterday afternoon (in a CityJet “Leinster Rugby” liveried replacement plane), manager Pat Fenlon must also select his starting XI without his captain Connor Kenna due to his niggling groin injury.