Shamrock Rovers crash out of Europe following defeat in Finland
KuPS Kuopio players celebrate their side scoring their winner Pic: INPHO/Mika Kylmaniemi Kuvien
Ireland will have no European club group stage involvement for the first time in three years after Shamrock Rovers crashed out of the Conference League at the play-off stage.
Miserable away form has cost Rovers since the title-holders began their campaign in the Champions League in July and KuPS completed a full complement of four defeats through Graham Burke’s own-goal 15 minutes from the end.
Manager Stephen Bradley had declared progression to a fourth league phase in five years as the minimum achievement for his Hoops this term but too many slippages caught up with them.
Floriana (Malta), Ararat (Armenia) and Egnatia (Albania) had racked up 10 goals in single legs against the Hoops as they cascaded through Uefa’s trap-doors.
It took just the one in Finland to ensure they ran out of lives.
That came from a set-piece awarded following a foul by captain Pico Lopes on Swedish striker Gustav Engvall that resulted in a booking for the World Cup star.
Rovers didn’t defend the free-kick into their box, culminating in the unfortunate substitute Burke nodding past his goalkeeper Ed McGinty after the ball pinballed around.
Whereas 2025 saw both Rovers and Shelbourne participate in the league phase, consisting of six matches up to Christmas, exits by all four of the League of Ireland representatives means Friday’s draw in Monaco won’t feature a green hue.
“That goal typified the type we’ve conceded this season in Europe,” bemoaned Bradley afterwards.
“We’ve given up too many soft goals and haven’t been good enough to make the league phase.” Elimination for Rovers deprives them from doubling their guaranteed €1.7m in Uefa prize-money but they’ll carry regrets about a campaign of spurned opportunities. How they didn’t didn’t kill the Europa League tie against the Albanians at Tallaght before losing the second leg 5-1 will haunt them as the nights close in and their conquerors savour the stage they’ve become accustomed to inhabiting.
Much like last week’s 1-1 draw at Tallaght, Rovers created little by way of clearcut chances in the second leg in Helsinki.
Veteran striker Aaron Greene was denied by Johannes Kreidl with a shot early in the second half before the Austrian pawed the ball away as Enda Stevens almost pounced for an equaliser late on.
Burke, who this season elevated to the highest Irish scorer in European competition history, was kept in reserve alongside another stalwart, Jack Byrne.
Their introduction, just past the hour mark, was part of the Rovers planning as they fully expected a tight tie requiring extra-time, or possibly penalties, to determine which progressed to the glamour stages.
"The game was exactly where we wanted it, to be honest,” he noted about the complexion of the tie. “We were bringing on Graham and Jack - more attacking players - to go and try and influence the game in a positive way.
"It was heading for extra time until we gave away a poor goal.” Defeats in three European cup competitions, along with a recent FAI Cup loss to St Patrick’s Athletic, leaves Rovers with just their league title to play for. Seeing off the chasing pair of St Pat’s and Bohs to lift their sixth crown in seven years won’t have the same feeling following their European demise.
: J Kreidl; S Savolainen (K Puukko 69), K Nuhu, B Magassa, C Antwi; V Gasc (S Touray 69), P Pennanen, J Luyeye-Lutumba (G Engvall 59), T Jyry, B Armah; P Parzyszek (R Moreno 88).
: E McGinty; L Grace, P Lopes, E Stevens; T Sobowale, J O’Sullivan (J Byrne 63), M Healy, W Fitzgerald; D Watts (A Brennan 82), J Afolabi (G Burke 63); A Greene (M Noonan 63).
Referee: Patrik Kolarić (CRO).
: 3,768
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