Europa League Play-off Preview: Shamrock Rovers -v- Ferencvaros

Rory Gaffney in action against Hibernians. He is the Hoops top goalscorer this season with ten goals

Rory Gaffney in action against Hibernians. He is the Hoops top goalscorer this season with ten goals Credit: Eddie Lennon (ETPhotos)

SHAMROCK ROVERS

The Hoops welcome Hungarian champions Ferencvaros to Tallaght Stadium for the second leg of their UEFA Europa League playoff round (kick off 8pm).

The match is sold out but has live TV coverage on RTÉ2.

You could argue that Shamrock Rovers must climb their Everest if they are to rescue their UEFA Europa League playoff round with Ferencvaros but in reality, they must go beyond Everest to pull off one of the most remarkable comebacks in European football.

In the club’s 97 European matches, their largest winning margin is a 4-0 win against Fram Reykjavik in 1982.

It was a case of deja vu for Stephen Bradley’s charges in Budapest last week, a more than capable performance away from home undone by costly errors that go punished at this level.

Sean Gannon’s moment of panic and a late concession of a fourth goal has all but put this tie to bed as a contest – akin to the third goal Rovers conceded to Ludogorets in the second qualifying round of the Champions League this season.

From their three wins from three home European games, the Hoops hit the net on eight occasions means that they are good enough to certainly win the home leg on Thursday but will need to pull the rabbit out of the hat to progress into the group stages of Europe’s second-tier.

With Conference League football already secured, this can be seen as a free hit for Rovers, and who knows if they can get two early goals hope will sweep through Tallaght Stadium.

Jack Byrne’s recovery from injury could see him make the starting XI after his cameo in Budapest.



Ronan Finn returns from suspension and will equal the all time League of Ireland appearance record in Europe (held by Gary Rogers on 54 matches).

Sean Gannon should he play will make his 50th appearance in Europe.

FERENCVAROS

European regulars in recent years, the Hungarian side know they have one foot in the group stage of the Europa League for the second successive year.

The four-in-a-row Hungarian champions are the most successful side in both national and international history and ‘Fradi’ as they are known are currently second in the NB I in Hungary after six points from their first two games. They are two points off the summit with as many games in hand.



Their Russian manager, speaking at their media event in Budapet on Wednesday before their flight to Shannon was dampening down expectations and wasn’t complaining about the unavailability of a landing slot in Dublin Airport.

Stanyslav Cherchesov said: “The match in Dublin will be a completely different clash (from the first leg). We will start from 0-0. Even though we have such a big advantage, we expect a very difficult match.

“On the way to Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan (earlier in their Euro campaign), we had similarly good experiences with the long journey.  Who has flown to Vladivostok? The time difference is eight hours and there is a match the next day. In comparison, an Irish tour is a walk in the park.”

Former Liverpool goalkeeper Adam Bogdan is targeting a safe passage on Thursday night and he is expected to start in Tallaght as Denes Dibusz, who played in the first leg, didn’t travel to Dublin 24.

“It’s always a pleasure when we travel to a European Cup match,” said Bogdan who during an ill-fated spell at Anfield made horrendous errors against Watford and Exeter City. “The fact that our opponent is an Irish club which represents the island’s style of football, obviously gives Wednesday’s trip a special spice.

“I’m happy that an international cup match is coming up, our goal is to secure the UEL group stage with a win in Ireland.”

REFEREE

The ref will be French official Francois Letexier. This won’t be the Frenchman’s first venture onto Irish soil as he officiated AEK Larnaka’s 1-0 win over Cork City in Turners Cross in 2017.

MATCH STATS

Friday 12 months ago marks the last time that Rovers have lost a match in Tallaght in any competition. Flora Tallinn defeated the Hoops 1-0 on Thursday 26 August. Since then they have gone 24 matches unbeaten in the venue which bests the club record in the Tallaght era and is the best run since a 30 match streak in Milltown between September 1983 and February 1985.

Ferencvaros boast former Premier League players Adam Bogdan and Mo Besic

The Hungarian side became the first club from Hungary to qualify for the UEFA Champions League in the 1995-96 season while making further European appearances in the 2005 UEFA Cup, 2020 and 2022 UEFA Europa League group stages and the 2021 Champions League.

PREDICTION

2-0 home win

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: Pico Lopes, Chris McCann, Graham Burke, Simon Power

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Ferencvaros

Injured: Denes Dibusz, Samy Mmaee, Rasmus Thelander

Doubtful: Kristoffer Zachariassen 

Suspended: None

Additional reporting by Macdara Ferris

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