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RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Sunday warning but Shamrock Rovers backed to slay Ballkani
Shamrock Rovers have work to do if they're to continue their Conference League journey this year, but Richie Towell and David McMillan both expect Stephen Bradley's men to turn things around against Ballkani on tonight. The Hoops fell to a 1-0 first-leg defeat in Kosovo last week, Sunday Adetunji's second-half effort proving the difference. Former Shamrock Rovers man Towell knows Adetunji well; he played for FC Shkupi against the Dublin outfit in 2022, when they met in the third round of the Europa League qualifiers. Rovers prevailed 5-2 on aggregate back then and Towell fully expects them to do the business at Tallaght Stadium on Thursday to set up a Conference League play-off against either Larne or Portuguese side Santa Clara. "I think they'll definitely get through," Towell said on the RTÉ Soccer Podcast. "A European night up in Tallaght, it hits a little bit different. "I've obviously been lucky enough to be a part of a lot of them. I think the crucial thing for Shamrock Rovers going into the game against Ballkani is... I think they'll have the lion's share of possession, Ballkani will sit back a little bit and try and protect that lead, the thing is they have the boy Sunday Adetunji up front. "We played against him when he played for Shkupi, a really good player. You seen him in the first leg, he scored and probably should have had another one or two goals. His link-up play is very good. "He's very similar to Tammy Abraham (tormentor of St Pat's last Thursday). He's that big, tall, gangly, physical presence, he can run in behind, he has a good touch, so he'll be a real target man for Ballkani." McMillan didn't pay too much heed to Shamrock Rovers' goalless draw against Galway United on Sunday. Bradley's charges remain in control at the top of the league, with little evidence to suggest the chasing pack are capable of putting them under genuine pressure. "It was the sort of league performance you'd expect mid-European tie," said the ex-Dundalk striker. "You can probably rest a few players because you have such a good cushion, a 10-point cushion to Bohemians behind them. "They've put themselves in an excellent position to be able to target the European games in particular, go out with your strongest teams, rest players during the weekend games in the league." McMillan also expects the Hoops to get through, adding: "They never really laid a glove on Ballkani (in the first leg) but on the flip side... it felt like a 1-0 loss was not too bad a result. "I'm sure they would have been happy to come away with a nil-nil, I'm sure that was the realistic target of the game, but even as it got to the latter stages of that game you just felt they were the fitter side, they were the stronger side. You just had a feeling there was more to come from Rovers and I think that's what they'll expect to show this week in Tallaght. "Ballkani will be coming thinking, 'we have this lead, can we sit back, can we hold on to it?' but I'd expect Rovers to show another level in Tallaght and probably get through this tie. Their form in Tallaght has been excellent, you would still fancy them to get the job done."
RTÉ News
4 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Conference League third qualifying round: All you need to know
Thursday, 14 August Shamrock Rovers (0) v Ballkani (1), Tallaght Stadium, 8pm Besiktas (4) St Patrick's Athletic (1), Tupras Stadyumu, 7pm ONLINE Shamrock Rovers v Ballkani is available to stream on LOITV. There'll be a live blog on RTÉ.ie and the RTÉ News app. WEATHER The sun was splitting the stones on Wednesday, but it'll be more overcast in Dublin ahead of Shamrock Rovers' tussle with Kosovan side Ballkani. Temperatures will still hover around the 20-degree mark however on a balmy evening. In Istanbul, St Pat's can expect warm conditions, with temperatures in the mid-to-high 20s at kick-off. Hoops have work to do It's a big night in Tallaght as Shamrock Rovers aim to keep their European ambitions alive. The SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division leaders were not at their best in last week's first leg, falling to a 1-0 loss thanks to Sunday Adetunji's second-half effort, but they're far from out of this. A boisterous home crowd will look to get their team over the line and set up a play-off against either Larne or Portuguese side Santa Clara, who lead 3-0 after the first leg at the Ballymena Showgrounds. Boss Stephen Bradley knows what Adetunji is capable of. The 27-year-old Nigerian played - and scored - against Rovers in the colours of North Macedonia's Shkupi when the clubs met in the Europa League qualifiers back in 2022. Richie Towell was involved in that tie, which the Hoops won 5-2 on aggregate. He expects his old side to progress tonight but warned: "The thing is they have the boy Sunday Adetunji up front. We played against him when he played for Shkupi, a really good player. "He's very similar to Tammy Abraham (tormentor of St Pat's last Thursday). He's that big, tall, gangly, physical presence, he can run in behind, he has a good touch, so he'll be a real target man for Ballkani." Last year Larne beat Ballkani on penalties in the Conference League third qualifying round. Shamrock Rovers would later beat Larne 4-1 in Belfast after both clubs reached the league phase. The Hoops will need to improve on their first-leg showing, but they certainly have the tools to get the job done here. Team news: Graham Burke is back from injury in a big boost for the hosts, but the omission of Jack Byrne from the squad has raised eyebrows. Byrne is not injured, with speculation mounting there's a rift between the player and management. Aaron McEneff is also unavailable. Player view - Ed McGinty (Shamrock Rovers goalkeeper): "They move the ball well, they move it at speed and they've got individual threats going forward. It's just about keeping the heads down. We don't really get too far ahead of ourselves. It's about working hard and trusting what we do on the ball." Saints playing for pride in Turkey St Pat's were blown away by a quality, ruthless first-half showing from Besiktas last week. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men came to Dublin under pressure after being hammered by Shakhtar Donetsk 6-2 on aggregate in the Europa League second-round qualifiers. However their big names turned on the style to crush any hopes of an upset, Tammy Abraham's hat-trick helping them to a 4-0 lead at the break. The big plus for Stephen Kenny was his team's performance on the turnaround. Simon Power scored a super individual effort before Mason Melia spurned a golden opportunity to nick a second. They'll hope to avoid a morale-damaging hammering at Tupras Stadyumu before focusing fully on domestic duties. "It's one of those where you have to gee the players up to go and enjoy the experience," said ex-Dundalk striker David McMillan on this week's RTÉ Soccer Podcast. "I've played in Ukraine, I've played in Belarus, the atmosphere can be - in Turkey in particular - absolutely incredible. Those games are some of the best experiences players will have. "It's disappointing for Pat's that they go there really for damage limitation... but as a player you just have to enjoy the experience. As a League of Ireland player, you don't get to play that type of opposition all that often." Besiktas had no league game at the weekend so will be ominously fresh. Meanwhile Kenny will have one eye on Sunday evening's massive FAI Cup last-16 clash against Shelbourne in Inchicore. He has a number of injury concerns and will have to utilise his squad. Team news: The Saints are without Zack Elbouzedi (shoulder), Aidan Keena (thigh), Sean Hoare (calf), Anto Breslin (knee), and Romal Palmer (hamstring). Manager view - Stephen Kenny (St Pat's): "(Besiktas) is an institution in Turkey. It's an incredible stadium, really incredible, and it's a very passionate home support. The players worked hard to get into Europe. Now we're here we want to put in a good performance. Obviously there will be some changes, all of the players can't play all of the games. Sunday is important as well so we've got to look at all that."
Irish Times
07-08-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Shamrock Rovers left with work to do to extend European adventure after Ballkani defeat
Uefa Conference League 3rd qualifying round, 1st leg: Ballkani (Kosovo) 1 (Adetunji 56) Shamrock Rovers 0 A skilfully taken goal by an old foe leaves Shamrock Rovers with work to do at Tallaght Stadium next week if they are to extend their European campaign this summer. Rovers knew a good deal about Sunday Adetunji who had scored against the Hoops while playing for North Macedonian side Shkupi three years ago. With 18 goals in their runners-up league campaign last season, the once-capped Nigeria international has brought his form into Europe, scoring three of Ballkani's five goals in their win over Maltese side Floriana in the last round of this competition. And he proved Rovers' nemesis at the Fadil Vokrri stadium in Pristina with a superbly contrived and taken winner on the night. READ MORE While living off lesser possession, though, Rovers can take plenty of solace from the fact that they can hurt Ballkani whose Slovenian goalkeeper Adnan Golubović made two terrific saves to deprive Josh Honohan. Missing the midfield craft of injured trio Aaron McEneff, Graham Burke and Jack Byrne, Rovers head coach Stephen Bradley made one change from their big league win over Derry City on Sunday with Darragh Nugent replacing McEneff in the centre of the park. Slick-passing Ballkani started positively, carving Rovers open for the first time on 12 minutes with Almir Kryeziu picking out the run of Brazilian Giovanni down the inside left channel. Ed McGinty had to be brave on the cross when diving at the feet of Adetunji, suffering a heavy knock in the process. Showing no adverse effects, McGinty was forced into his first significant save of the game minutes later from Albanian Geralb Smajli's long-range drive. The Kosovan side continued to take the game to Rovers, if without seriously troubling them. Rovers' Danny Mandriou tackled by Almir Kryeziu of Ballkani. Photograph: Slobodan Sandic/Inpho Working hard to get on the ball, Rovers threatened for the first time on 28 minutes. Wingback Honohan headed on skipper Roberto Lopes' free kick for Nugent who skipped in behind down the left. The low cross just couldn't find a hooped shirt. There was a let-off for Rovers six minutes later from the first corner of the game. Kryeziu set up Ardit Deliu whose shot had the power but not the direction as if fizzed wide. But it was Rovers who had the big chance of the first half five minutes before the break from a second successive corner. Dylan Watts' delivery found Honohan whose downward header was brilliantly tipped away by Golubović. As in the first, Ballkani began the second half on the front foot, though it was Rovers who created the first opportunity six minutes in. Honohan raided down the left to cross for Danny Mandroiu whose touch went wide. Ballkani finally proved clinical at the other end to take the lead with a fine goal on 56 minutes as an intricate passing move cut Rovers open. At the end of it, Smalji slipped Adetunji in behind. The big striker showed superb touch and composure to turn Dan Cleary with his right foot and drill his shot past McGinty with his left. It might have been 2-0 three minutes later but for a one-handed save by McGintry from Gentrit Halili with Kryeziu blazing the rebound over the top. Ballkani appeals for a handball in the build up weren't entertained following a VAR check. McGinty was there again to save well from Kryeziu as Ballkani strove to extend their lead. With Rovers pressing to get back into the game, Adetunji might have done so on 80 minutes, his touch letting him down dead in front of goal from Halili's cross. Golubović then denied Rovers two minutes into added time with his second superb save of the night to push Honohan's header round a post from a Watts free-kick. Rovers now focus on Sunday's league game at Galway United before turning their thoughts to resuscitating their European hopes next Thursday. FC Ballkani: Golubovic; Smajili, Batarelo (Jashanica, 39), Halili, Potoku (Letaj, 85); Deliu, Giovanni, Albert; Hamidi (Tolaj, 65), Adetunji, Kryeziu. Shamrock Rovers: McGinty; Cleary, Lopes, Grace; Watts, Healy; Grant, Nugent (Noonan, 60), Honohan; Mandroiu; Gaffney (Malley, 60). Referee: Dmytro Panchyshyn (Ukraine).
