Rovers advance in Europa League

Shamrock Rovers booked their place in the Europa League second qualifying round with a 1-0 win over Stjarnan at the Tallaght Stadium, advancing 2-0 on aggregate.

A fine first-half performance, complemented with a goal from man-of-the-match Graham Burke, helped the Dublin side book their place in the next round against Czech team Mlada Boleslav, while adding a lucrative €225,000 to go with the €215,000 they received for making the Europa League first qualifying round.

The win means Rovers are now 11 matches unbeaten at home, and if they continue to play with a similar attacking swagger, there are no reasons why they cannot replicate reaching the group stages as they did in the 2011/2012 season.

The game started on a similar note to the first leg with both sides feeling each other out, but it was the hosts who carved out the opening opportunity in the eight minute when Ronan Finn picked out Burke on the edge of the area, but the 23-year-old's effort rose narrowly over the bar.

Despite settling well, Stephen Bradley's team knew the visitors carried a threat, and they nearly silenced the home supporters in the 12th minute when Baldur Sigurdsson capitalised on a lacklustre Simon Madden clearance, but the attacking midfielder's snap-shot was superbly stopped by the impressive Tomer Checinski.

The Hoops began to dominate proceedings, and they deservedly scored their second of the tie when Burke tapped home from close range in the 20th minute after fine work from Brandon Miele on the right found the former Aston Villa youngster in space.

Burke came close to doubling his tally two minutes later when his long-range effort had Haraldur Bjoernsson scrambling, but unfortunately for the hosts the ball narrowly went wide of his right post.

Stjarnan came out for the second-half on the front foot and they could have levelled on then night just before the hour-mark when a fine ball from Josef Kristinn Josefsson found Holmbert Aron Fridjonsson, with the winger picking out Hilmar Halldorsson whose effort was saved by the alert Checinski.  

To their credit Rovers kept the away side at bay and could have finished the game on a high when Michael O'Connor was played through on goal, but the youngster's effort trickled just wide of the far-post.

The League of Ireland side were safely through though and can look with confidence to the next round.

Meanwhile at Turner's Cross, a hat-trick from Sean Maguire helped Cork City progress to the second qualifying round of the Europa League with a 4-2 win, advancing 6-2 on aggregate.

Despite falling behind twice, the Rebel Army came back to record their highest tally of goals in a European game, and a first ever hat-trick.

They will play the winners of Cypriots Larnaca and Gibraltar's Lincoln Red Imps, with the latter leading 5-0 from the first-leg.

Derry City were swept aside by a classy FC Midtjylland at the Showgrounds, losing 4-1 on the night, and 10-2 on aggregate.

A hat-trick from Paul Onuachu helped the Danish side on their way to a comfortable win, before Aaron McEneff replied for the hosts, who were outclassed across the tie.

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