Norwegian outfit Molde next up in Europe for Shamrock Rovers
After Coach Game Geczo/inpho Pic: The The Laszlo Applauds Head Rovers Bradley Stephen Shamrock Fans
Shamrock Rovers will need to get past Norwegian outfit Molde in February to reach the last-16 of the Uefa Conference League.
The Hoops had already guaranteed their spot in the playoffs before last night’s concluding league phase game against Chelsea, where a draw would have bypassed them straight into the last-16.
That scenario looked plausible for eight first-half minutes when Markus Poom brought the visitors level at Stamford Bridge but Chelsea’s expensively-assembled side, including Marc Cucurella, went through the gears to run out 5-1 victors.
A first defeat in six matches of this part of the campaign left Rovers missing out on a top-eight direct ticket on goal difference.
They finished 10th, whereas Molde mounted a late charge, beating Mlada Boleslav 4-3 on Thursday with a stoppage-time winner, to squeeze into the middle bracket in 23rd spot.
Former Ireland U21 goalkeeper Sean McDermott was a substitute.
It was either TSC Backa Topola from Serbia or the Norwegians to face Rovers heading into Friday’s draw and it wasn’t kind, as Molde reached the last-16 of the Conference League as recently as two years ago.
Rovers will have home advantage in the second leg, earned by their seeded status.
They will travel away for the first leg on 13 February, three days before facing Bohemians in the showcase league season opener at Lansdowne Road, before the return leg at Tallaght Stadium on February 20.
Meanwhile, Poom admitted the magnitude of their match against the Premier League’s second place side was the only reason he broke off his parenting introduction.
The midfielder has jetted back to his native Estonia once he learned of his wife Rebeca going into labour early, resulting in the birth of daughter Matilde.
“It’s been the best week of my life,” said the Rovers goalscorer.
“After beating FK Borac last Thursday, I actually had doping control, so I only saw the missed calls once that was finished.
“The due date was actually in January so our first child came almost a month early. But look, you can’t really choose the date!
“I bought the first plane ticket to Estonia, spent three days there with a few sleepless nights, and got in a couple of training sessions before Chelsea.
“If it was any other game, I wouldn’t have made the sacrifice to travel back.
“My wife understood, my family has been a huge help just to look after my wife and the baby. As an athlete, you take your chances and see if it pays off and I definitely would say that this was one that paid off.”
- Gent v Real Betis
- TSC Backa Topola v Jagiellonia
- Celje v APOEL
- Víkingur R v Panathinaikos
- Copenhagen v Heidenheim
- Molde v Shamrock Rovers
- Omonoia v Pafos
- FK Borac v Olimpija