Cold comfort for Shamrock Rovers as Celje serve up chilly revenge dish
Shamrock Rovers were left out in the cold tonight in Tallaght Stadium as Celje turn up the heat in their Europa Conference League group game.Michael Noonan's frustration sums up his side's night as they lose 2-0 to Celje. (Image: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne)Shamrock Rovers 0-2 NK CeljeIf revenge is a dish best served cold then the weather Gods conspired to do Celje a favour.A biting wind coupled with the low temperature provided the backdrop; a 2-1 defeat when the Slovenians visited Tallaght last year the context for this atonement mission.Teams like Celje don’t expect to lose to Irish sides. And managers like Albert Reira, with his fine CV and high self-regard, certainly don’t like it. But last year they suffered that indignity here in Tallaght.And last night they got their revenge.Read more: Shamrock Rovers v Celje LIVE stream information, score updates, TV channel info and moreCelje looked a different team this time, largely because they are, as just one player survived last summer’s defeat to start this game, two more making their bench. “We were babies then; we are adults now,” said Reira.They certainly played with a lot more authority than 15 months ago.Operating off a 4-3-3 structure, Celje began with purpose, and a sign of their intent was visible inside two minutes when Franko Kovacevic, the visitors’ centre-forward, tested Ed McGinty, the Rovers keeper.This Franko/Irish rivalry quickly became a theme in the first half, Kovacevic denied an opening goal for a clear offside on 11 minutes, prior to getting two goals later in the half.Prior to that was a quieter spell — fifteen minutes of ebb and flow without a clear chance, yet it remained a game you couldn’t take your eyes off as Celje retained possession while Rovers retained a solid shape.A view of a corner flag inside Tallaght Stadium ahead of the match
Every time the visiting full-backs surged forward, danger loomed. But also opportunity as their forays left gaps behind. Rory Gaffney, forever darting off the shoulder, hinted at chances that threatened to go Rovers’ way.Instead it was Celje who went in front. The truth is they were playing at a higher level — their passing crisp, their movement slick, their intent constant. For half an hour, Rovers stood firm. Then, in ten punishing minutes, the contest slipped away.First, on 33 minutes, Kovacevic produced a finish of real class, his nimble footwork taking him away from Corey Sullivan and Roberto Lopes, before he forced his shot past McGinty.. Rovers 0-1 Celje.Moments later, it was déjà vu. A clever set-piece routine saw Lukasz Bejger rise at the back post to nod Mario Kvesic’s cross back across goal. Kovacevic, perfectly placed, chested it in. Clinical. Ruthless. Celje 2-0 up, and Rovers facing a mountain they could scarcely see the top of, never mind climb.Even so, they got their hiking boots on and showcased their heart and spirit to the 6,076 in attendance, Pico Lopes and Gaffney each producing separate shots which demanded the best of the Celje keeper, Zan-Luk Leban.That wasn’t all.There was a lot more aggression to the Rovers tackling in the second half, the lesson of that first 45 minutes when they afforded too much time and space to the Slovene side having clearly been learned.On the ball, they were also better, partly because Celje were willing to employ a what-we-have-we-hold tactic but also, to their credit, because Rovers upped the tempo of their play and produced some good stuff.Dylan Watts, in midfield, produced some superb moments; Lopes, at the back, led with typical guile.Had they scored then who knows how Celje would have reacted? As it was, they were composed throughout the second period, even when Rovers gradually began to play more of the game in their half.They kept trying right until the end, sub Michael Noonan showcasing his talents by producing a thunderous shot.That particular effort went over the bar on a night when Celje raised the bar.As for Rovers, that’s two defeats from two now in this year’s group stages.There’s no shame in that. Celje may not be that well known but you don’t have to be famous to be good. And this Slovenian side are top-notch. Unfortunately for Rovers it does not get any easier. AEK Athens are next in a fortnight’s time.Shamrock RoversMcGinty; Cleary, Lopes, Matthews (Grace 57); O’Sullivan, Watts (McGovern 81), Healy, Malley (McEneff 61), Honohan; Mandriou (Burke 57); Gaffney (M Noonan 81)NK CeljeLeban; Nieto, Karnicnik, Tutyskinas, Bejger; Hrka (Daniel 54), Kvesic, Lisakovich (Avdyli 54); Sturm (Vancas 86), Kovacevic (Poplatnik 81), IosifovReferee: O Berka (Czechia)
