Conference League qualifiers as they happened: St Pat's mauled by Besiktas in Tallaght as Shamrock Rovers lose to Ballkani
St Patrick's Athletic took on the might of Turkish side Besiktas, managed by Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, while in Kosovo, Shamrock Rovers faces Ballkani in tonight's Uefa Conference League third qualifying round first legs.
You can relive all the action as it happened here.
3 minutes ago
That's where we will leave it this evening! Thank you for joining us on another Irish Independent live blog. For post-match reactions and reports, keep an eye on the Independent.ie as the night progresses.
A final look at that wonderful pre-match display from the St.Pat's fans in Tallaght:
Daniel McDonnell on Twitter / X
North Stand in Tallaght belongs to St Patrick's Athletic tonight. Healthy Turkish turnout too and not restricted to the away section pic.twitter.com/Vml6apB0Yl— Daniel McDonnell (@McDonnellDan) August 7, 2025
FULL-TIME: St.Patrick's Athletic 1 - Besiktas 4
Well, the two-legged tie might be over as a contest, but St.Pat's can take great pride in winning the second-half and keeping the 16-time Turkish champions scoreless in the process.
Besiktas flexted their muscles in the first-half with Portuguese international Joao Mario on fire, while Tammy Abraham netted a wonderful hattrick. He takes in the adulation of the travelling fans with the match ball tucked under his arm.
The Inchicore club hand their fair share of strong performers in goal-scorer Simon Power and the industrious Kian Leavy in midfield. Stephen Kenny's side will travel to Turkiye next Thursday where they will give Besiktas another rattle in the 42,000-seater Tupras Stadyumu.
15 minutes ago
St.Patrick's Athletic 1 - Besiktas 4 (90 mins)
We will play 3 minutes of additional time in Tallaght as this first-leg tie nears it's conclusion.
19 minutes ago
St.Patrick's Athletic 1 - Besiktas 4 (87 mins)
Over to Tallaght and Stephen Kenny's men are holding their own late in this second-half with just 3 minutes of normal time remaining. Besiktas substitute Kartal Yilmaz has just fired wide, with Simon Power off target at the other end.
Mason Melia is replaced by Brandon Kavanagh.
22 minutes ago
FULL-TIME: Ballkani 1 - Shamrock Rovers 0
Its defeat for Shamrock Rovers in the first-leg of this Conference League third qualifying round. In truth, Ballkani probably deserved it as they created a plentiful supply of chances. Crucially, Sunday Adetunji took his chance on 56 minutes in a very composed manner.
However, its only half-time in the context of this two-legged tie. The Hoops will fancy their chances next week at home to the Kosovan side in Tallaght next Thursday.
League of Ireland on Twitter / X
Defeat in Pristina but all to play for in Tallaght next week 👊 pic.twitter.com/I2GYp60nm0— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) August 7, 2025
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27 minutes ago
90+2' SAVE! Agony for Shamrock Rovers as Dylan Watts delivers a wonderful freekick to the back post which is met by the head of Honohan. The wing-back is denied by another fine Adnan Golubovic save.
28 minutes ago
90' The Hoops couldn't take advantage of that aforementioned set-piece as Danny Grant strayed offside.
There will be a minimum of 4 minutes of additional time played as Geralb Smalji wipes out Josh Honohan on an attacking foray.
30 minutes ago
St.Patrick's Athletic 1 - Besiktas 4 (76 mins)
CHANCE! That was well worked by St.Pat's as Jason McClelland worked a free short to Chris Forrester. The experienced midfielder cut in on his right and forced Gunok into a fine save.
Kian Leavy has been excellent for the Saints tonight too. He wins another corner for the hosts.
32 minutes ago
87' Michael Noonan does well to win the ball back and set Danny Grant away on a one-man break. He holds on to win a free from Gentrit Halili who is finally brandished with a yellow card - it only took about 8 fouls. Can the Hoops profit from this set-piece?
36 minutes ago
82' JUST WIDE! Another chance for the hosts as Adetunji holds up possession expertly for Giovanni. The Brazilian's left-footed effort fizzes past the right post. McGinty probably had his angles covered.
39 minutes ago
80' CLOSE! That could have resulted in a second goal for Ballkani as Halili's cross beats Lee Grace and falls to Sunday Adetunji. The 27-year-old marksman can't control it and Ed McGinty pounces.
43 minutes ago
75' Gentrit Halili, Ballkani's centre-half, has easily racked up a good half-dozen fouls now. The Hoops bench erupts after more cynical play from the 23-year-old, but it lands Stephen Bradley in the referee's book.
There's no doubt about it, the Ukrainian arbiter has been rather lenient towards the hosts thus far.
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45 minutes ago
A moment Simon Power will never forget - his wonderful solo goal against Turkish giants Besiktas:
48 minutes ago
70' Into the final 20 minutes here in Kosovo and the lively Almir Kryeziu draws another fine save out of Ed McGinty. The Hoops shot-stopper did well to hold onto the powerful strike.
50 minutes ago
St.Patrick's Athletic 1 - Besiktas 4 (55 mins)
SAVE! St.Pat's have come alive in this second-half and their travelling fans from Inchicore have burst into song. Substitute Axel Sjoberg puts in a wonderful cross from the right, but Melia's strike is parried by Mert Gunok. The teenager can't get onto the rebound. That was so close!
53 minutes ago
64' Stephen Bradley has made a couple of alterations after the hour mark with Conor Malley and Michael Noonan taking over from Darragh Nugent and Rory Gaffney.
Ballkani make an alteration of their own as Walid Hamidi makes way for Bleart Tolaj.
55 minutes ago
St.Patrick's Athletic 1 - Besiktas 4 (49 mins)
GOAL! What a start for the Saints as Simon Power shows a clean pair of heels to Gabriel Paulista. The former Arsenal and Valencia centre-half is left eating the 27-year-old's dust as he slots it home at the near post despite the advancing frame of Mert Gunok. Not even a VAR review can overturn it. Wonderful stuff!
League of Ireland on Twitter / X
49' | Pats have a goal back! Simon Power scoring shortly after the restart.STP 1-4 BJK pic.twitter.com/ivNAbHyWO6— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) August 7, 2025
Today 03:50 PM
56' GOAL! Ballkani 1 - Shamrock Rovers 0
The Kosovan club have constructed the breakthrough just before the breakthrough here! Shamrock Rovers fail to deal with Ardit Deliu in midfield. The Albanian feeds it wide to Giovanni who slips a ball into Sunday Adetunji. The Nigerian striker has ice in his veins as he cuts inside Lopes and picks out the bottom-left corner.
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