Work to do for Rovers as they head into home second leg a goal down to Ballkani

The result is certainly not insurmountable for Rovers who had shown enough on the night to be confident of getting a result in the home leg next week, where the eventual winner will face either Larne or the more likely Santa Clara for a place in the desperately sought after Group phase.

WORK TO DO: Shamrock Rovers fell to a narrow defeat at the hands of Kosovan side Ballkani in their Uefa Conference League Third qualifying round 1st leg. Pic: Nikola Krstic/Sportsfile

Europa Conference League, Third qualifying round, 1st leg: Ballkani 1 (Adetunji 56’) Shamrock Rovers 0

Shamrock Rovers fell to a narrow defeat at the hands of Kosovan side Ballkani in their Uefa Conference League Third qualifying round 1st leg. In the perfect surroundings of the Stadium Fadil Vokrri in Pristina, it was Sunday Adetunji’s second half goal that proved the difference against a battling Shamrock Rovers side who not only defended resolutely in the most part and were unlucky not to get a goal on the night.