Good start not enough as Shamrock Rovers’ Euro season over

Despite a much-improved display, Shamrock Rovers bowed out of the Europa League in Rovaniemi last night. 

Gary McCabe gave them a fully deserved lead, but it was Rovers who came bearing gifts to the home of Santa Claus. That came in the guise of Criag Hyland’s goalkeeping mistake which presented RoPS with a soft equaliser on the night.

Caretaker manager Stephen Bradley made a bold team selection leaving club captain Stephen McPhail on the bench as McCabe came into midfield to skipper the side. Gavin Brennan dropped back to left-back in place of the injured David O’Connor.