Stalemate in Tallinn but Rovers progress

FC Flora 0 Shamrock Rovers 0 (Shamrock Rovers win 1-0 on agg)

A dominant Shamrock Rovers had to settle for a scoreless draw at the A. Le Coq Arena in Tallinn, but it was more than enough to see Michael O’Neill’s Hoops through against the Estonian champions on a 1-0 aggregate.

A much bigger step up in class awaits as Rovers now meet Danish champions FC Copenhagen in the third qualifying round, away in the first leg next week.

However, Rovers are now also guaranteed at least two more rounds in Europe as the losers of their tie with Copenhagen are parachuted into the Europa League play-off round.

Leading from Chris Turner‘s goal from the first leg, Rovers pressed from the start, but goal chances were at a premium in a generally dour game.

Rovers' striker Dean Kelly had perhaps the best chance of the game on 83 minutes when his header from Enda Stevens’ superb cross from the left brought the save of the night from Stanislav Pedõk.

A terrific tackle by home skipper Karl Palatu had snuffed out the threat of Kelly early on before Flora carved their only real chance on 15 minutes.

Sergei Mošnikov worked a one-two with Nikolai Mašitšev to get off a low drilled shot that was narrowly wide.

Thereafter, Rovers, roared on by some 600 travelling fans, continued to take the game to their host with Ronan Finn firing skipper Gary Twigg’s knock down wide on 21 minutes.

Rovers, who’d almost 60% of possession in the first half, upped the tempo on the resumption and Billy Dennehy headed wide before Ken Oman brought a decent stop from Pedõk from Dennehy’s corner.