Santa slayed as Shamrock Rovers raid the Azores for huge first-leg victory 

Stephen Bradley’s men pulled off a major coup coming from behind as they more than matched Santa Clara, who finished fifth in the Portuguese Primeira Liga last season.

HOOP HOOP HOORAY: Shamrock Rovers players celebrate after the UEFA Conference League Play-off Round first leg match between CD Santa Clara and Shamrock Rovers FC at the Estadio de São Miguel in Ponta Delgada, Portugal. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile

UEFA Conference League: Santa Clara 1 Shamrock Rovers 2 

A first goal in Europe for Danny Grant and another skilfully taken strike from the influential Danny Mandroiu leaves Shamrock Rovers some 90 minutes away from back-to-back qualifications for the league phase of the Conference League after a controlled, tactically astute performance in the Azores.