
Rijeka 1 Shelbourne 2: As it happened – Joey O'Brien's men come from behind to win on road in Europa League
League of Ireland champions Shelbourne face a stern test as they go up against Croatia's Rijeka in the Europa League third qualifying round.
Ultan Corcoran brings you all the action with kick-off at 7.45pm.
70'
Sam Bone
58'
Niko Jankovic
56'
11 minutes ago
I'm afraid that's all we have time for this evening! It was a pleasure to keep you up to date with the action. Whether you are a Shels fan or not, this is another momentous night for the League of Ireland as a whole!
We will be back tomorrow to cover more action involving Irish clubs in Europe as Shamrock Rovers take on Ballkani, while St.Patrick's Athletic face the might of Besiktas. Here's Dan McDonnell's summary on Shels' night below:
Match Finished
Shelbourne take a 2-1 lead back to Dublin!
A strange finish to the game as Rijeka appeal for a penalty. Radeljic's effort struck Sam Bone's arm, but it didn't look convincing whatsoever. The VAR check passes by and the final whistle sounds - Shels have won it!
Incredible work from Joey O'Brien's side as they go to receive the adulation of the hundred or so travelling Shels fans. Inside a giant cage no less, that wouldn't look out of place in Dublin Zoo. They fell behind to a Niko Jankovic penalty, but the League of Ireland champions responded through Sam Bone and John Martin.
In doing so, Shels have gone one better than they fared in Croatia 21 years ago - a 3-2 defeat to Hajduk Split. This time, the Drumcondra club take a 2-1 aggregate advantage back to Tolka Park next week!
90'+3
Scoring Chance
Rijeka
Player
Tiago Dantas
BLOCKED! In desperation, Rijeka hoof the ball in deep and it breaks out to the edge of the box for Tiago Dantas. The Portuguese midfielder smacks it, but Paddy Barrett gets his body in the way. Sheer bravery from the captain.
90'
Scoring Chance
Rijeka
Player
Luka Melano
This time from Luka Melano turns provider with a whipped delivery to the back post. Ante Orec tries to sneak in but the pace on the ball beats him. Goal kick for Shels who are holding their own here approaching the final whistle.
We will have a minimum of 3 minutes injury time added on by the Spanish officials.
87'
The change in midfield is supplemented with a swap at right-back with the experienced Sean Gannon taking over from Milan Mbeng - the latter was pretty excellent tonight.
81'
A little bit of gamesmanship creeping in for Shelbourne as Speel goes down to receive attention... and sure, what harm! They have the lead and every second they can kill off the clock could prove crucial.
77'
Joey O'Brien also turns to his bench and calls upon the services of Ellis Chapman. Harry Wood departs with that crucial assist for the second goal under his belt.
77'
Substitution
Rijeka
Substituted out
Simun Butic
Substituted in
Dominic Yankov
A fifth and final alteration for Rijeka as Bulgarian midfielder Yankov replaces teenager Butic.
76'
Scoring Chance
Rijeka
Player
Anel Husic
Another speculative effort and another routine save. Half-time substitute Husic gives it a go from 35-yards - Wessel Speel is right behind the strike.
70'
Goal
Shelbourne
Scorer
John Martin
Assist
Harry Wood
GOAL! Suddenly Shels are in the lead! Its simple football but its oh so effective as the away end goes wild. Milan Mbeng slips it to Harry Wood on the right. The Englishman crosses to John Martin who directs his header inside the far post. Textbook finish giving Zlomislic no chance.
70'
A double change for Rijeka - one in attack and one in midfield - as Duje Cop takes over from Juric and Amir Gojak is replaced by Luka Menalo.
66'
Scoring Chance
Shelbourne
Player
John Martin
CLOSE! What an effort from John Martin. The Kilkenny native picked the ball up in the half space and turned for goal. He has a pop from a good 30-yards and it whistles just past the left upright. Martin Zlomislic was at full stretch in the Rijeka goal!
62'
The game has really increased in pace in the last few minutes, evidenced by the goals. Rijeka go in search of a reply but Harry Wood manages to hook the ball away from Jankovic.
58'
Goal
Shelbourne
Scorer
Sam Bone
Assist
James Norris
GOAL! Shels have responded in a flash here. Unbelievable reply from the League of Ireland side.
Kerr McInroy works a short corner before whipping it to the back post. Jamie Norris arrives to keep the ball alive with a wonderful header and Sam Bone bravely bundles it in on the goal-line. Beautiful training ground move!
56'
Goal
Rijeka
Scorer
Niko Jankovic
GOAL! In front of the hardcore Rijeka support, Niko Jankovic steps up and drills his penalty down the middle of the goal. Wessel Speel dives to his right and can't get near it. Rijeka take the lead.
56'
Penalty
Rijeka
Shooter
Niko Jankovic
PENALTY! Oh this is cruel for Shels. Sam Bone's pass back to Wessel Speel is fine, but the Netherlands goalkeeper takes too much time to make up his mind and Ndockyt races in to get a touch and milk the penalty in the process.
54'
Scoring Chance
Rijeka
Player
Tiago Dantas
Once a highly rated prospect at Bayern Munich, Tiago Dantas picks out Niko Jankovic. The 23-year-old has a go from range but this time it lacks the accuracy to test Speel.
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RTÉ News
2 hours ago
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RTÉ News
3 hours ago
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3 hours ago
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St Pat's journey in Europa Conference League all-but over as Tammy Abraham hat-trick leads Besiktas to hammering
Besiktas played like a team full of internationals and still smarting at their Europa League elimination ST PAT'S 1-4 BESIKTAS St Pat's journey in Europa Conference League all-but over as Tammy Abraham hat-trick leads Besiktas to hammering SHELS sprung a shock on Wednesday but St Patrick's Athletic were just shelshocked on Thursday. The League of Ireland may punch above its weight in European competition - but sometimes the gap is just too big as Besiktas, Tammy Abraham and co proved on Thursday night. Advertisement 2 St Patrick's Athletic were hammered by Besiktas 2 Tammy Abraham scored a hat-trick Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile Shelbourne's superb victory over Croatians Rijeka in the Europa League on Wednesday night was a great night for the league and showed how Irish sides can compete at the top level. That could have given St Patrick's Athletic - who provided enough of their own great results over the years - confidence, and then Besiktas destroyed them in in the first half. Abraham scored a first half hat-trick as the Turks - managed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored four - and it could have been more. In the press box, the stats were being checked to see what were the heaviest home defeats for League of Ireland sides in Europe. Advertisement It was a fair reflection on the game too as Besiktas played like a team full of internationals and still smarting at their Europa League elimination by Shakhtar Donetsk last week because they host the final this season. Yet whether they were guilty of easing off after the break or Stephen Kenny's switch to a back five after the break, the Saints gave as good as they got and won the second half. Simon Power scored early while Mason Melia and Chris Forrester also had chances. But in truth, Besikitas never looked worried that the Saints were about to produce a miracle comeback. Advertisement Yet did give many of the 7,821 in attendance something to cheer and means the Saints head to Istanbul next week knowing an early goal will give the Turks a scare. Still, the Turks will expect to run out in Istanbul with the same intensity they showed in the first half and win easily. Spurs v West Ham fan battle: Moyes was 'easily' better than Poch! | Stoppage Time The rout started after just eight minutes when one ball sent Ernest Muci clear on the right and his cut back found Portuguese playmaker Rafa Silva. He had plenty of time but instantly flicked the ball behind him to left winger Joao Mario whose first time shot took a deflection off Joe Redmond and beyond Joe Anang. Advertisement If the Saints could feel hard done by for the first finish, there was no sympathy when the second was belted in by Abraham on 15 minutes. Again, the attack came down the right as Jonas Svensson and he dinked in a cross that was just within Anang's reach. But it was not close enough for the Saints' goalkeeper to grasp as he could only help the ball onto the loitering Abraham's chest before the England man belted it over the line. Abraham's second arrived on 23 minutes when he finished with a cool dink beyond Anang after proving too strong for Tom Grivosti. Advertisement And he completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot on 43 minutes after he was tripped by Jamie Lennon inside the box. But in truth, Besiktas could have been even more comfortably in front in the first half as Anang also made stops from Rafa Silva, Orkun Kokcu and Demir Ege Tiknaz. Sure, all the saves were routine. But that all three efforts were from central areas inside the penalty area from crosses highlighted the ease at which St Pat's were were torn apart. The Saints did have the ball in the net once in the first half though the whistle had gone for a foul by Redmond long beforehand with what was one of the few times they threatened. Advertisement More often than not, the hosts could not make an impact on the game. And when they did get into attacking positions, their crossing was poor with Mason Melia - namechecked by Solskjaer as a threat beforehand - not given any sight of goal. But boss Stephen Kenny made changes at half-time bringing on Luke Turner and Axel Sjoberg and switching to a back five. And it worked instantly as the Saints pulled a goal back when McClelland's ball down the line sent Power sprinting clear on the left. Advertisement Power is the fastest player in the League of Ireland and Besiktas had no defender who could keep up with him as he coolly beat goalkeeper Merk Gunok at his near post. That lifted the mood among the home fans and the home side as St Pat's then began playing with much more purpose than at any point in the first half. And they could have pulled a second goal back on 55 minutes when Merk Gunok was relieved Melia shot straight at him from ten-yards when he was picked out by Sjoberg. Late on, Forrester also had a shot saved after a quick free kick put him through though Besikitas looked composed as substitute Keny Arroyo had a late shot cleared off the line. Advertisement SUN STAR MAN Tammy Abraham (Besiktas) ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Anang 5; McLaughlin 5, Redmond 6, Grivosti 4 (Turner ht, 6), McClelland 5; Forrester 6 (Baggley 82, 6), Lennon 5; Mulraney 4 (Sjoberg ht, 6), Leavy 6 (Carty 82, 6), Power 6; Melia 6 (Kavanagh 88, 6) BESIKTAS: Mert Gunok 7; Svensson 7 (Tayfur Bingol ht, 6), Paulista 7, Emirhan Topcu 7, Jurasek 7 (Talha Sanuc 90, 6); Ege Tiknaz 7 (Kartal Yilmaz 76, 6), Orkun Kokcu 8 (Hadziahmetovic 90, 6); Muci 8 (Arroyo 59, 6), Rafa Silva 8, Mario 7; Abraham 9. Advertisement REFEREE: D Smajc (Slovenia) 6.