First leg score: Shamrock Rovers 3-1 Shkupi
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Match preview
Following Thursday’s dramatic victory in Dublin, will Shamrock Rovers guarantee group stage football in Skopje?
Five nights ago, the Hoops raced into a 2-0 lead at Tallaght Stadium; Graham Burke converting a penalty before Dylan Watts doubled their advantage.
However, the 6,500 in attendance fell silent 13 minutes from time when Queven pulled one back for Shkupi.
But, in the seventh minute of injury time, following a penalty-box scramble, Gary O’Neill curled home a beautiful, potentially crucial, third for the home side.
So, travelling to North Macedonia with a 3-1 lead, will it be a night of celebration for Stephen Bradley’s team.
Now though, if the League of Ireland champions get through this tie, they’ll guarantee a return in one competition or another.
Thus, it’s impossible to overstate the importance of this match for the Hoops.
The same though can be said of Shkupi who won their first-ever league title last year.
They’d never even reached the third qualifying round before this season, but Goce Sedloski’s side are on the verge of a monumental achievement,
A nervy occasion could be on the cards at Toše Proeski National Arena.
Whoever gets through will face the losers of Ferencváros vs Qarabağ in the Europa League play-off round.
The losers will drop down into the Europa Conference League play-offs and face a do-or-die clash with Klaksvíkar Ítróttarfelag or Ballkani.
