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Approaching the UEFA Champions League clash with the Irish champions from last year, "Shamrock Rovers" from Dublin, it's time to introduce the opponents closer.
The club is the most decorated in the country, the most successful team in Ireland. They have won the national championship 17 times, and lifted the cup 24 times. In the past two years - 2010 and 2011 - they were victorious in the Irish championship and are now starting their European campaign just like "Ekranas," from the Champions League tournament.
Throughout the club's history in various UEFA European tournaments, "Shamrock Rovers" have played 64 matches, won 13, drew 11, and lost 40. In the Champions League or the then Cup Winners' Cup, they have played 18 times, won only once, drew 5 times, and lost 12 times.
To start the European tournaments from the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round and reach the Europa League group stage, sometimes scoring three goals may be enough. "Shamrock Rovers" proved that last year. In the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round, the Irish met with "Flora" from Tallinn. In Dublin, "Shamrock Rovers" won 1-0, and in Estonia, the match ended in a 0-0 draw. In the third qualifying round, the Irish champions faced the Danish champions FC København. They lost 0-1 away, and 0-2 at home. Then, just like last year, the Irish moved on to the Europa League tournament and in the battle to reach the group stage they faced "Partizan" from Belgrade. The home match ended 1-1, the Serbs scored first, but Gary McCabe equalized at the end of the second half. The away game ended 1-1 in the main time again. The scenario was similar. The Serbs scored first, and in the second half, Pat Sullivan leveled the score. During extra time, the Irish, after converting a penalty kick (Stephen O'Donnell scored), managed to advance and unexpectedly reach the Europa League group stage.
Here the team faced "Tottenham Hotspurs" (0-4, 1-3), Kazan's "Rubin" (1-4, 0-3), Salonika's PAOK (1-3, 1-2). Although they experienced 6 defeats, the players gained invaluable experience in international matches.
At that time, the team was led by the head coach Michael O'Neill. Since December 2012, "Shamrock Rovers" has been led by 40-year-old Stephen Kenny. Starting his coaching career with youth teams in 1998, he worked at "Longford Town," later moved to "Bohemians," and coached at "Derry City," "Dunfermline Athletic," and "Derry City."
Looking at their lineup, one cannot help but notice the young age of the goalkeepers. No longer present is Ryan Thompson, who guarded the goal last year. Most often, the 22-year-old Swedish goalkeeper Oscar Jansson, representing the U-21 Swedish national team, is part of the main lineup. Less frequently, the goal is guarded by 21-year-old South African citizen Reyaad Pieterse. The team's lineup has changed little from last year. In January, central defender Dan Murray moved to "Cork City." At the end of last summer, left-back Enda Stevens moved to "Aston Villa." Right-back Patrick Flynn has been playing for the "St. Patrick's Athletic" team since 2012. The core of the team remained the same compared to last year's lineup.
By the way, not a single player from Irish clubs was in the Irish national team that participated in this year's European Football Championship. As for the foreigners, the Scottish players Gary Twigg and Craig Sives, as well as the Brits Chris Turner, Kerrea Gilbert, and the aforementioned goalkeeper from the South African Republic, Reyaad Pieterse, represent the Irish champions.
One of the most experienced defenders of "Shamrock Rovers," 30-year-old Pat Sullivan, was nominated for the best league player selection in 2011. It will be necessary for the defenders of "Ekranas" to keep a close eye on forward Gary Twigg. In official matches this year, he has already scored 17 goals. The Scottish player joined "Shamrock Rovers" in 2009 and immediately became one of the most productive forwards in the Irish league.
In official matches this year, Billy Dennehy scored 5 times, while Aaron Greene, Gary McCabe, and Daryl Kavanagh each scored 4 times. All these players also competed last year when the team reached the Europa League group stage.
So far, in the Irish championship, "Shamrock Rovers" have not had the same success as perhaps a team that became the national champion last year would have hoped. After 16 matches, they are in fourth place, 10 points behind the leaders, "Sligo Rovers." They have 6 wins, 7 draws, and 3 losses. They have scored 30 goals but conceded 25. "Shamrock Rovers" fans are quite worried about the team's results and openly declare it on the team's profile on the social network "Facebook." "Shamrock Rovers" have only won one league match since the beginning of the summer - on June 21st.
The UEFA Champions League match between "Shamrock Rovers" and Panevėžys' "Ekranas" - is on July 17th, Tuesday, in Dublin, at "Tallaght" stadium. Kick-off is at 22:00 Lithuanian time.
