Uefa Conference League third qualifying round, second leg
FT – Besiktas (Turkey) 3 St Patrick’s Athletic 2 (7-3 agg) Report
FT – Shamrock Rovers 4 Ballkani (Kosovo) 0 (4-1 agg) Report
To wrap things up, here’s the reports from the evening’s two games.
[ Shamrock Rovers blow Ballkani away to book a trip to the AzoresOpens in new window ]
[ St Pat’s put up a fight but Besiktas too strong in IstanbulOpens in new window ]
That’s all from me for tonight. Thanks for following along.
Tallaght Stadium is in full song as Stephen Bradley looks for them to encourage his side to the whistle.
And there it is, full-time. Rovers take a comprehensive win over Ballkani.
FT – Shamrock Rovers 4 Ballkani 0 (4-1 agg)
FT – Besiktas 3 St Pat’s 2 (7-3 agg)
Ballkani look like they want to be put out of their collective misery at this stage.
Referee adds two minutes on.
90 mins: Shamrock Rovers 4 Ballkani 0 (4-1 agg)
FT – Besiktas 3 St Pat’s 2 (7-3 agg)
Nice shot from McGovern to keep things interesting but it’s just north of the woodwork.
No shock as to the man of the match, Rory Gaffney.
83 mins: Shamrock Rovers 4 Ballkani 0 (4-1 agg)
FT – Besiktas 3 St Pat’s 2 (7-3 agg)
The edge has unsurprisingly gone out of the game. Ballkani doing very little to string anything to threaten Rovers.
Attendance at Tallaght Stadium confirmed as 6,419.
79 mins: Shamrock Rovers 4 Ballkani 0 (4-1 agg)
FT – Besiktas 3 St Pat’s 2 (7-3 agg)
Conor Malley makes way for Darragh Nugent, Dylan Watts subs off for John McGovern and goalscorer Joshua Honohan is replaced by Adam Matthews.
Rovers using the Ballkani playbook now to slow things right down, firmly in control in Tallaght.
72 mins: Shamrock Rovers 4 Ballkani 0 (4-1 agg)
FT – Besiktas 3 St Pat’s 2 (7-3 agg)
BURKE MAKES IT FOUR! The Rovers substitute is there to capitalise on a dreadful mistake from Ballkani goalkeeper.
Golubovic blocks the initial shot but doesn’t claim the ball, leaving it for Burke to tap in the deflection.
68 mins: Shamrock Rovers 4 Ballkani 0 (4-1 agg)
FT – Besiktas 3 St Pat’s 2 (7-3 agg)
Michael Noonan and Graham Burke come on as Stephen Bradley turns to his bench to try see things out.
Standing ovation for goalscorer Rory Gaffney as he makes way along with Danny Mandroiu.
64 mins: Shamrock Rovers 3 Ballkani 0 (3-1 agg)
FT – Besiktas 3 St Pat’s 2 (7-3 agg)
GOAL FOR ROVERS! Joshua Honohan with an unbelievable finish to extend their lead.
55 mins: Shamrock Rovers 3 Ballkani 0 (3-1 agg)
FT – Besiktas 3 St Pat’s 2 (7-3 agg)
GOAL FOR ROVERS! Gaffney again!
Malley threads the pass and Gaffney back-heels it around Golubovic. Lovely finish.
49 mins: Shamrock Rovers 2 Ballkani 0 (2-1 agg)
FT – Besiktas 3 St Pat’s 2 (7-3 agg)
Back under way at Tallaght Stadium.
45 mins: Shamrock Rovers 1 Ballkani 0 (1-1 agg)
FT – Besiktas 3 St Pat’s 2 (7-3 agg)
Half-time at Tallaght Stadium. Rory Gaffney puts Stephen Bradley’s men ahead for the break.
And it’s all over in Istanbul. No way back for St Pat’s as they go down 3-2 to Besiktas.
HT – Shamrock Rovers 1 Ballkani 0 (1-1 agg)
FT – Besiktas 3 St Pat’s 2 (7-3 agg)
GOAL FOR SHAMROCK ROVERS! Rory Gaffney comes good on what he’s been threatening for much of this half.
46 mins: Shamrock Rovers 1 Ballkani 0 (1-1 agg)
87 mins: Besiktas 3 St Pat’s 2 (7-3 agg)
Besiktas have gone ahead against St Pat’s. Another of last week’s goalscorers, this time Joao Mario.
43 mins: Shamrock Rovers 0 Ballkani 0 (0-1 agg)
81 mins: Besiktas 3 St Pat’s 2 (7-3 agg)
Rory Gaffney finds the net but the flag goes up. VAR’s going to check it.
The decision is no goal.
36 mins: Shamrock Rovers 0 Ballkani 0 (0-1 agg)
78 mins: Besiktas 2 St Pat’s 2 (6-3 agg)
Ballkani are starting to pick up the pace but they’re offering very little by way of a press.
Rovers dispossess at the midway but Honohan can’t control it to keep play alive.
35 mins: Shamrock Rovers 0 Ballkani 0 (0-1 agg)
76 mins: Besiktas 2 St Pat’s 2 (6-3 agg)
Ballkani don’t believe in rushing themselves. They take an age over a free kick but it’s sent in high and Edward McGinty has no issue rising to the challenge.
Still all square in Istanbul.
28 mins: Shamrock Rovers 0 Ballkani 0 (0-1 agg)
69 mins: Besiktas 2 St Pat’s 2 (6-3 agg)
Referee finally goes to the book and shows Halili a yellow.
From the free Watts sends it in but Ballkani clear their lines easily.
25 mins: Shamrock Rovers 0 Ballkani 0 (0-1 agg)
64 mins: Besiktas 2 St Pat’s 2 (6-3 agg)
Ballkani come close. Ismailgeci receives the ball from a corner and steadies himself before drilling the shot.
Luckily for the hosts it finds the left upright.
17 mins: Shamrock Rovers 0 Ballkani 0 (0-1 agg)
59 mins: Besiktas 2 St Pat’s 2 (6-3 agg)
Strong start from Stephen Bradley’s side but Ballkani are looking to slow things down to shift the momentum.
In Istanbul, Besiktas have levelled things. Tammy Abraham the culprit once again.
9 mins: Shamrock Rovers 0 Ballkani 0 (0-1 agg)
52 mins: Besiktas 2 St Pat’s 2 (6-3 agg)
Early chance for Rovers. Gaffney sends a shot to beat two defenders but the Ballkani goalkeeper Golubovic gets to it on the line.
2 mins: Shamrock Rovers 0 Ballkani 0 (0-1 agg)
Ballkani get things under way at Tallaght Stadium.
0 min: Shamrock Rovers 0 Ballkani 0 (0-1 agg)
We’re going to switch focus to Shamrock Rovers v Ballkani at Tallaght Stadium but we’ll be keeping an eye on the second half of the St Pat’s game.
Five minutes out from kick-off in Tallaght.
HT – Besiktas 1 St Pat’s 2 (5-3 agg)
And that’s half-time in Istanbul.
HT – Besiktas 1 St Pat’s 2 (5-3 agg)
Besiktas claw one back through Demir Ege Tıknaz as they near half-time in Istanbul.
Three minutes added on.
Besiktas 1 St Pat’s 2 (5-3 agg)
GOAL FOR ST PAT’S!
Besiktas fumble the clearance from a corner and Ryan McLaughlin fires off his shot to beat Mert Gunok.
Besiktas 0 St Pat’s 2 (4-3 agg)
Here’s how Shamrock Rovers are line out against Ballkani:
Meanwhile, they’re just past the half-hour mark in Turkey where Conor Carty’s penalty remains the difference.
Besiktas 0 St Pat’s 1 (4-2 agg)
Besiktas pile on the pressure trying to break through St Pat’s defence with some quick passing. The visitors are back in numbers and goalkeeper Joseph Anang gets things under control.
Stephen Kenny’s side trying to slow down the play in possession as Besiktas look far more comfortable on the ball.
Besiktas 0 St Pat’s 1 (4-2 agg)
We’ll keep an eye on proceedings in Istanbul while also looking ahead to Shamrock Rovers’ 8pm kick-off.
Going in to this evening’s game Stephen Bradley’s charges trail by a goal on aggregate after Sunday Adetunji found the net for Ballkani in the 56th minute last time out.
“Judging the health of Shamrock Rovers ahead of the key second leg of their Uefa Conference League against Kosovo’s Ballkani depends on which way you look at the patient,” Gavin Cummiskey writes, previewing the clash.
Read his full diagnosis below:
[ Jack Byrne removed from Shamrock Rovers squad ahead of Conference League clashOpens in new window ]
Besiktas 0 St Pat’s 1 (4-2 agg)
St Pat’s have a sizeable task this evening, attempting to turn around a three-goal deficit from the first leg.
Former Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham punished Stephen Kenny’s side last Thursday with a first-half hat-trick after Joao Mario’s eighth-minute opener, Simon Power managing St Pat’s solitary goal just after the break.
[ St Pat’s outplayed by classy Besiktas in Conference LeagueOpens in new window ]
Carty’s penalty has them off to the perfect start this evening.
Besiktas 0 St Pat’s 1 (4-2 agg)
The St Pat’s game got under way at 7pm Irish time.
The game is being streamed on HT Spor’s website if you fancy brushing up on your Turkish.
With three minutes on the clock Conor Carty has put St Pat’s ahead from the penalty spot.
Besiktas 0 St Pat’s 1 (4-2 agg)
Hello and welcome along to The Irish Times blog for this evening’s Uefa Conference League third qualifying round second-leg fixtures.
Two League of Ireland teams are in action. First up, St Patrick’s Athletic are away to Turkish side Besiktas before Shamrock Rovers host Kosovo’s Ballkani.
We’ll have previews, team news and live updates from the games, followed by match reports and reaction after the final whistles.
Here’s how St Pat’s and Besiktas line out:
ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Anang; Redmond (capt), Leavy, Carty, Baggley, Mulraney, Sjoberg, McLaughlin, Turner, Robinson, Kazeem.
BESIKTAS: Mert (capt); Svensson, Paulista, Emirhan, Jurasek, Demir Ege, Orkun, Rafa Silva, Arroyo, Rashica, Abraham.
