Soccer

Irish Euro qualifying round-up: Mixed night as Rovers fall short but St Pats squeeze past in first legs

St Patrick’s Athletic defeated Sabah of Azerbaijan in the first leg of their third round Europa Conference League qualifier

St Patrick's Athletic's Chris Forrester and Sabah's Soufiane Chakla (right) both looking at the ball
St Patrick's Athletic's Chris Forrester and Sabah's Soufiane Chakla (right) during the UEFA Conference League third qualifying round first leg match at the Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Picture date: Thursday August 8, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story SOCCER St Patricks. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior consent from rights holder. (Brian Lawless/Brian Lawless/PA Wire)
By Liam Grimley

REACTIONS from Irish fans will be largely positive heading into the second legs of the third qualifying round for the Europa Conference League after St Patrick’s Athletic and Shamrock Rovers both tackled their opponents.

St Pats overcame Sabah of Azerbaijan after midfielder Romal Palmer scored their only goal in Tallaght Stadium in Dublin to go to Masazir with an advantage.

However, the saints have a difficult few days ahead, with a league trip to fifth-placed Galway United on Sunday afternoon before next week’s second leg.

Elsewhere, Shamrock Rovers will have their work cut out for them in Tallaght Stadium in two weeks after they lost 1-0 to NK Celje of Slovenia at the Stadion Z’dezele in their Europa League qualifier first leg.

Bosnian international Luka Menalo got the decisive goal for the reigning Slovenian champions.