Europa Conference League Report: Shamrock Rovers 1 -1 KAA Gent

Patrick O’ Connor reports from the Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers came agonisingly close to getting a historic home win in the Europa Conference League before eventually having to settle for a 1-1 draw against a very good KAA Gent side at Tallaght Stadium on Thursday night.

They were 1-0 up with 72 minutes on the clock but when they were reduced to ten men in the 73^rd minute the tide turned in favour of the Belgian side.

This was still an outstanding performance by the home side as they more than matched the very technically competent Gent side throughout the match.

Rovers got off to the best possible start when they scored an excellent goal with their first attack in the third minute.

Neil Farrugia played the ball to Richie Towell and when he whipped the ball into the far post Rory Gaffney was on hand to head the ball past Paul Nardi in the Gent goal.

Gaffney almost made it two in the ninth minute when he was on the end of a flowing move along the left touchline but his shot was tipped onto the post by Nardi for a corner.

The Belgian side did dominate the possession for large tracks of the first half but anytime they created a goal scoring opportunity they were denied by Alan Mannus who was in excellent form.

Rovers lost two of their midfielders midway through the first half when Dylan Watts and Chris McGann picked up injures but Justin Ferizaj and Lee Grace slotted in well without disrupting Rovers’ rhythm.

It was 1-0 at the break but Gent should have equalised as early as the 48^th minute in the second half but they overplayed the ball in the box when an earlier shot might have led to an equaliser.

Rovers did have the ball in the net in the 59^th minute courtesy of a shot from Sean Hoare but Rory Gaffney had strayed into an offside position and the goal disallowed by Austrian referee Julian Weinberger.

Gent continued to own the ball for most of the second period, but it required a stroke of bad luck for Rovers to allow them get their equaliser.

First half substitute Justin Ferizaj picked up a second yellow and then a red card for a poor challenge in the 72^nd minute and one minute later Gent were level.

Left winger Bruno Godeau did well on the left touchline to whip in a dangerous cross and substitute Hyunseok Hong gave Alan Mannus no chance with a powerfully struck shot from the penalty spot.

The Belgian side bombarded the Hoops goal in search of an equaliser, but some resolute defending coupled with the brilliance of Mannus meant that they were unable to get the winner, a fact that did not go down well with the large travelling support.

Overall, it was a very impressive performance by Rovers following so soon after they clinched the Premier Division title earlier this week.

Shamrock Rovers: Alan Mannus, Sean Hoare, Dan Cleary, Roberto Lopes, Neil Farrugia, Dylan Watts ( Judstin Ferzaj 23), Sean Kavanagh, Richie Towell ( Sean Towell 90), Chris McGann ( Lee Grace 31), Alan Lyons,  Rory Gaffney(  Viktor Serdeniuk  90).

Subs not used: Leon Pohls (GK), Toms Leitis (Gk), Gideon Tetteh, Michael Leddy.

Booked:  Justin Ferzaj (24) Sean Kavanagh (42) Richie Towell (65) Neil Farrugia (72) Daniel Cleary (87), Sean Gannon (91)

Sent Off: Justin Ferzaj (72)

Gent: Paul Nardi, Joseph Okumu, Michael Ngadeu- Ngadjui, Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe (Rune Van Der Bergh 8), Jens Petter Hauge (Hyunseok Hong 60), Ibrahim Salah (Nurio Fortuna 74) Andrew Hjulsager, Matisse Samoise, Sulayman Marreh (Sven Kums  46), Laurent Depoitre, Bruno Godeau.

Subs not used: Davy Roef (GK), Rene Vanden Borre, Hugo Cuypers, Bram Lagae,

Booked:  Sulayman Marreh (34)

Referee: Julian Weinberger.

Extratime.com Player of the Match: Andrew Hjulsager (Gent)

Attendance: 6,203

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