Conference League qualifiers: Shamrock Rovers lead Ballkani in Tallaght as St Pat's lose after Besiktas comeback in Istanbul
Today at 13:50
Shamrock Rovers face Ballkani in tonight's Uefa Conference League third qualifying round second leg, aiming to overturn a 1-0 deficit at Tallaght Stadium.
Before that, St Patrick's Athletic take on the might of Turkish side Besiktas in Istanbul, trailing 4-1 from the first leg.
St Pat's v Besiktas kicks off at 7pm Irish time, while Rovers begin their quest to beat the Kosovans at 8pm and you can catch all the action here.
Just now
46' The teams are back out for the second-half which has just got underway!
No changes to report on for either team, with both managers keeping their powder dry for the time being. It could be a long night, especially if extra-time is needed to separate these sides.
4 minutes ago
Sean O'Connor shares his half-time thoughts from his perch in Tallaght:
Half-time here at Tallaght Stadium and Shamrock Rovers lead on the night and have levelled the tie through Rory Gaffney's poachers' finish right before the break.
The Hoops started on the front foot with Matt Healy going close early on, but Ballkani sent a warning sign soon after when Ed McGinty could only watch Marsel Ismajlgeci's strike from outside the area come back off the post.
Rovers finished the half much the stronger though as Rory Gaffney had three chances in the space of 10 minutes. The first found the net but was flagged for offside, the second was blocked in the nick of time but it was third time lucky as he converted from close range for his second European goal of the season, and 11th in all competitions.
A huge second-half awaits as Stephen Bradley's men target a play-off spot, likely to be against Portugal's Santa Clara, who are scoreless against Larne at the break but lead 3-0 on aggregate.
League of Ireland on Twitter / X
What a second half we have on our hands! pic.twitter.com/yVlr30k2Z2— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) August 14, 2025
7 minutes ago
FULL-TIME: Besiktas 3 - St.Patrick's Athletic 2 (7-3 Agg.)
A bizarre ending to the game in Istanbul asn Besiktas shot-stopper Mert Gunok is yellow carded for handling the ball outside of his box. I've seen red cards for less! Nothing comes of the resulting free-kick and the final whistle sounds.
It was a gallant effort from Stephen Kenny's Saints this evening. They took a shock lead from the penalty spot through Conor Carty before Ryan McLaughlin doubled their lead on 34 minutes.
However, Besiktas - recieving boos from their own fans - eventually rose from their slumber and turned the game around. Demir Ege Tiknaz cut the deficit before the break, while Tammy Abraham and Joao Mario completed the comeback. The Turkish side advance on a 7-3 aggregate scoreline.
St Patrick's Athletic FC on Twitter / X
Our 2025 European campaign ends in Istanbul, Carty & McLaughlin got our goals in a performance to be proud of It's all eyes now to Sunday's FAI Cup tie at home to Shelbourne 🎟️ https://t.co/QFZVo3K2TM#StPatsFC 🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/i9gCerTKZI— St Patrick's Athletic FC (@stpatsfc) August 14, 2025
14 minutes ago
No love lost between the Hoops and Ballkani, as Sean O'Connor notes a bit of afters from the Gaffney goal:
Before going to celebrate in the corner, Gaffney went back to have some words with Ballkani's Arber Potoku, who just minutes before had jeered the Galway man right in his face moments after missing a chance in front of goal.
A sweet moment for Gaffney and a big one for Rovers who are full value for their half-time lead.
15 minutes ago
HALF-TIME: Shamrock Rovers 1 - Ballkani 0
Tallaght Stadium is absolutely rocking as the Finnish arbiter brings an end to the first-half. Stephen Bradley will be delighted with his team who capitalised on that purple patch with a goal before the break from Rory Gaffney.
It's all square on aggregate at 1-1 as things stand. We will be back for the second-half shortly.
18 minutes ago
45+1' GOAL! The Hoops have finally found the breakthrough! A cross from the left whipped in by Danny Mandriou to the near post is spilled by Ballkani shot-stopper Adnan Golubovic. Whoe else but Rory Gaffney is on hand to blast home from the rebound. A classic striker's finish from the 35-year-old. (1-1 Agg.)
League of Ireland on Twitter / X
45' | Shamrock Rovers are ahead thanks to Rory Gaffney☘️SHA 1-0 BAL (1-1 AGG) pic.twitter.com/fkDaqvYAVe— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) August 14, 2025
23 minutes ago
42' CLOSE! Moments after his offside goal, Gaffney almost puts his side in front! A fine ball forward from Roberto Lopes is missed by the Ballkani defender and Gaffney capitalises.
The 35-year-old takes the last defender on and shows quick feet to jink past him before steadying himself in front of goal, but an orange shirt got back in the nick of time to thwart the shot. This is a good spell for the hosts right before the break.
24 minutes ago
Besiktas 3 - St.Patrick's Athletic 2 (79 mins)
GOAL! Looks like there will be no fairy tale finish for St.Pat's in Europe this season. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's substitution has worked a treat. Jonas Svensson crosses from the right to pick out Joao Mario. The Sainst defending is a bit loose, allowing the Portuguese midfielder to slot beneath Anang.
Ernest Muci cracks the top of the crossbar a minute later! That could have been 4-2 easily.
27 minutes ago
36' OFFSIDE! Rory Gaffney find the net and raises his hands in celebration but the offside flag is raised! A superb through ball from Dylan Watts put the Galway man clean through on goal and while the finish was perfect, the run was just a fraction too early as it remains scoreless.
Still, that has sparked the Rovers fans into life again who are spurring their side on to find that opener as the break approaches.
31 minutes ago
Sean O'Connor updates us just past the half-hour mark:
No fresh chances to report from Dublin 24 as we hit the half-hour mark. After a slow start Ballkani have got into the game more in the last 15 minutes, and almost got in behind the Hoops' backline moments ago when Geralb Smajli sent a dangerous ball across the face of goal. Rovers skipper Roberto Lopes was in the right place at the right time to make an important clearance, but that was a sign of the threat the Kosovans pose.
32 minutes ago
31' Geralb Smalji's freekick is plucked out of the air by Ed McGinty as the Hoops look to counter, but Gentrit Halili has other ideas and commits the professional foul. He gets a booking for his sins.
Danny Mandriou also sees yellow for giving backchat to the Finnish linesman.
37 minutes ago
Besiktas 2 - St.Patrick's Athletic 2 (67 mins)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has called on a few substitutes as Joao Mario and Mustafa Hekimoglu replace Tammy Abraham and Orkun Kokcu.
As for the Saints, Stephen Kenny has replaced Jake Mulraney with Chris Forrester.
47 minutes ago
18' Rory Gaffney has made himself a handful as the lone striker so far. He's flanked by Connor Malley on the right and Danny Mandroiu on the left, but it's Josh Honohan who went closest to an opener on 13 minutes when his effort - which looked like a ball in to Gaffney - flew towards the bottom corner but Adnan Golubovic was alert to it and made a smart save.
51 minutes ago
Besiktas 2 - St.Patrick's Athletic 2 (50 mins)
GOAL! Just like that it's all level. Besiktas made two changes at the break introducing defender Felix Udokhai and Ernest Muci. An equaliser comes five minutes after the break as Emirhan Topcu crosses for Tammy Abraham who ruthlessly dispatches it to the net inside the box. (6-3 Agg.)
Conor Carty, Kian Leavy and Darren Robinson are replaced by Mason Melia, Simon Power and Jamie Lennon.
Beşiktaş JK on Twitter / X
GOOLLLLLLLLLL | ABRAHAMMMMMMM!!!!!⌚[49]🦅 2-2 🔴 pic.twitter.com/J8x0dMDisU— Beşiktaş JK (@Besiktas) August 14, 2025
53 minutes ago
8' POST! Shamrock Rovers have settled into the tie well but the visitors gave them a big warning sign just moments ago when Marsel Ismajlgeci's strike from outside the area came back off the post.
Today 03:04 PM
2' SAVE! The Hoops go close to levelling the tie with less than two minutes on the clock as Rory Gaffney lays it off to Matt Healy, whose shot was deflected and looked to be trickling into the bottom corner but Ballkani 'keeper Adnan Golubovic gets down just in time to save. An early warning sign for the Kosovan visitors.
Today 03:02 PM
1' The first-half gets underway in Tallaght!
The man in the middle with the whistle this evening is Mohammad Al-Emara who forms an all-Finnish refereeing ticket with assistants Turkka Valjakka and Mika Lamppu.
It's another fine evening for football with a sun-soaked Tallaght Stadium basking in 21-degree heat with a light wind from the west.
Today 03:00 PM
BALLKANI'S TEAM TONIGHT:
Last season's runners-up in the Kosovan league are yet to return for the new season but will take confidence from their first-leg win last week. Tonight, head coach Orges Shehi lines his team out as follows in a 4-3-3 formation with Adnan Golubovic between the posts, captain Bajram Jashanica starts at centre-half, with Brazilian threat Giovanni moving into the forward line alongside first-leg match winner Sunday Adetunji:
Today 02:57 PM
SHAMROCK ROVERS LINE-UP:
Head coach Stephen Bradley sets his team up as follows with a solitary alteration from his team that narrowly lost 1-0 in Kosovo last Thursday. Ed McGinty starts in goals, with Pico Lopes captain on the evening alongside Dan Cleary and Lee Grace.
Conor Malley replaces Darragh Nugent in a midfield boasting Josh Honohan, Matt Healy, Danny Grant and Dylan Watts, while Danny Mandroiu and Rory Gaffney spearhead the forward line. UEFA graphics suggest a 3-5-2 formation:
Shamrock Rovers FC on Twitter / X
🟢 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 🟢Your Hoops XI to take on our Kosovan opponents in Tallaght this evening 👊☘️#RoversInEurope || @sharp_security pic.twitter.com/qm5l7nKKy9— Shamrock Rovers FC (@ShamrockRovers) August 14, 2025
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