Bradley's Hoops go stone cold again as European campaign ends in Iceland

Just as Breidablik had eliminated Rovers from the Champions League qualifiers in 2023, they now ended the Hoops interest in this season’s Conference League

Thu, 11 Dec, 2025 - 20:34

Macdara Ferris, Laugardalsvöllur

UEFA Conference League: Breidablik 3 - 1 Shamrock Rovers

Unlike at the start of this year, there will be no knockout phase football for Shamrock Rovers next February after a 3-1 loss in Iceland ended the chances for the Hoops of progressing out of the league phase of the UEFA Conference League.

Just as Breidablik had eliminated Rovers from the Champions League qualifiers in 2023, they now ended the Hoops interest in this season’s Conference League as they face into a dead rubber in Tallaght against Hamrun Spartans next week.

Rovers had taken a first half lead through Graham Burke on 32 minutes before conceding three just minutes later through Victor Orn Margeirsson. As Rovers pushed on for a winner in the second half, Breidablik’s striker Oli Valur Omarsson was on hand to punish the Hoops and put the hosts into the lead. They wrapped up the win with an injury time breakaway goal.

Stephen Bradley didn’t use the bitterly cold weather as an excuse and wasn’t harsh on his team conceding the third as they chased fruitlessly for late goals but he wasn’t best pleased with his team’s second half performance.

“We came into it and took control of the game, scoring a good goal,” said Bradley speaking afterwards in the media room in the Icelandic national stadium. “I’m disappointed we gave away a goal so quickly and then in the second half we just came away from what we were doing and what was working. We lost control of the game.”

Burke had put Rovers a goal to the good with a driven left-foot strike to send the 250 travelling supporters in the small crowd in the Icelandic national stadium into delirium. Rory Gaffney’s centre found Matt Healy and a nice interchange allowed Burke to find space to fire home his 13th European goal – to move just one behind David McMillan in the all-time list of League of Ireland goalscorers in Europe.

Off a David Ingvarsson set piece, Oli Valur Omarsson was given time to find Viktor Margeirsson at the back post and his touch inside the six-yard box took the ball home for the equaliser.

Stephen Bradley had spoken pre-match about how he expected Breidablik to play in a similar manner to recent matches and to their game in 2023. However, it certainly looked like he wanted to change his setup to counteract Breidablik after only six minutes when he called all his outfield players to the sideline after goalkeeper Ed McGinty went down requiring treatment.

The Hoops head coach had made two changes to his team from their recent 2-1 loss to Shakhtar in Tallaght. While Burke’s introduction to the starting line up certainly paid off, it wasn’t quite the case with handing a European starting debut to Victor Ozhianavuna.

The wind howled across the pitch but the Hoops did have the benefit of it mostly behind their backs but they couldn’t exploit that in the opening half and they exited the pitch at the break level.

A draw was no good for either team’s knockout phase qualification prospects and Rovers introduced striker Michael Noonan in place of Danny Grant in the 67th minute as the Hoops sought out a winner but it was the home side who scored next.

Omarsson had time to cut inside onto his left foot and curl a shot by the despairing dive of McGinty. In injury time, McGinty was caught upfield for a Rovers corner and substitute Kristinn Jonsson was able to race clear and slot home from distance into the empty net to add insult to injury from a Rovers perspective.

Breidablik: Anton Ari Einarsson; Andri Yeoman (Gabriel Snær Hallsson 88), Viktor Margeirsson, Damir Muminović, Davíd Ingvarsson; Viktor Einarsson (Kristinn Steindórsson 90+5), Höskuldur Gunnlaugsson ©, Arnór Gauti Jónsson; Óli Valur Ómarsson (Gudmundur Magnússon 90+5), Ágúst Thorsteinsson (Kristinn Jónsson 88), Aron Bjarnason. Booked: Arnór Gauti Jónsson (70).

Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty; Dan Cleary, Pico Lopes ©, Lee Grace (Max Kovalevskis 61); Danny Grant (Michael Noonan 67), Dylan Watts (Connor Malley 84), Matthew Healy, Cory O'Sullivan; Victor Ozhianvuna (John McGovern 84), Graham Burke; Rory Gaffney.

Referee: Enea Jorgji (Albania)