Rovers exit Europe with defeat in Lithuania

Shamrock Rovers European campaign failed to live up to last season’s heroics as The Hoops failed at the first attempt losing out 2-1 to Lithuanian Champions Ekranas.

Last week’s scoreless draw in Tallaght proved costly as Stephen Kenny’s men were to rue a host of missed opportunities on home soil.

Rovers’ conceded on the stroke of half time as Marko Andjelkovic opened the scoring with a neat header just as the sides looked set for a scoreless first half.

Concession of the first goal seemed to stifle Rovers as Ekranas dominated the game for long spells in the second half in the sweltering heat.

Zilvinas Kymantas doubled the Lithuanian’s advantage on 63 as Rovers looked short on confidence and were struggling to keep possession.

Gary McCabe pulled one back from the penalty spot in injury time but any hope of a repeat of last season’s European Tour were long extinguished. The Tallaght outfit can have no complaints on a bad night for the Airtricity League Premier Division Champions.