Shamrock Rovers suffered a narrow defeat against Kosovan side Ballkani in their UEFA Conference League Third qualifying round 1st leg. At Stadium Fadil Vokrri in Pristina, Sunday Adetunji’s second-half goal was the difference against a battling Shamrock Rovers side who defended resolutely for the most part and were unlucky not to score.
The hosts, nicknamed “The Gabriels,” started strongly, demonstrating their experience at this level, having qualified for the group stage in the last two seasons. Danger man Adetunji – who also scored against Rovers for Shkupi – showed good pace early on to get in behind a couple of times.
In the 12th minute, the hosts came closest to opening the scoring. Brazilian attacking midfielder Giovanni burst down the left inside channel and looked to set up Adetunji, but the pass had too much pace.
The home side built momentum, and minutes later, Ed McGinty made an excellent save to deny right back Geralb Smajli’s powerful long-range strike.
However, Rovers, an experienced side with 14 European games last season, weathered the storm and carried a threat going forward, with Darragh Nugent and Josh Honohan sending in dangerous crosses.
Despite missing players like Jack Byrne, Aaron McEneff, and Graham Burke, the visitors finished the half stronger.
Roberto Lopes, making a record 48th European appearance for the Hoops, surpassing Ronan Finn’s record, caused problems from Rovers’ first corner, with the ball cleared off the line.
From the resulting set piece, Josh Honohan’s downward header looked to be going in, only for Adnan Golubovic to scoop it out of the bottom corner at the last second.
The hosts started the second half slowly, but took the lead 11 minutes after the restart. An intricate passing move drew the Rovers defense out of position, finding Adetunji in the area. The Nigerian turned Dan Cleary and poked the ball home, his fourth goal in this season’s European campaign.
Minutes later, McGinty made another outstanding save, shifting his body across goal to parry the ball to safety.
Stephen Bradley brought on teenage sensation Michael Noonan and new recruit Conor Malley, seeking an equalizer, but they couldn’t find the necessary precision on the final ball.
In injury time, Honohan powered another downward header towards the corner, almost identical to his first-half chance, but Golubovic made a spectacular save.
The result is not insurmountable for Rovers, who showed enough to be confident of a result in the home leg next week. The eventual winner will face either Larne or, more likely, Santa Clara for a place in the Group phase.
A Golubovic; G Smajli, I Batarelo, G Halili, A Potoku (E Letaj, 85’); A Deliu, Giovanni, A Diene; W Hamidi (B Tolej, 65’), A Kryeziu, S Adetunji
A Illjazi, M Bajraktari, V Serebe, D Vokrri, A Maksutaj, A Engjell, L Kolgeci, B Jashanica, L Mursell
: E McGinty; D Cleary, R Lopes, L Grace; D Grant, D Watts, M Healy, D Nugent (C Malley, 60’), J Honohan; D Mandroiu, R Gaffney (M Noonan, 60’)
: L Steacy, A Noonan, A Matthews, A Greene, S Kavanagh, G O’Neill, C Barrett, C O’Sullivan, J McGovern
: D Panchyshyn (UKR)
