Shamrock Rovers 0 FC Copenhagen 2 (0-3 on aggregate) - SHAMROCK ROVERS had their dreams of a UEFA Champions League play-off ended by a clinical FC Copenhagen at Tallaght Stadium.

Michael O’Neill’s side will now progress to the UEFA Europa League qualifying play-off after a 3-0 aggregate defeat to the Danes – a last 16 team in the Champions League last season.

But for 42 minutes of this Third Qualifying Round second leg the Hoops dared to dream that they may pull off the impossible and overall their performance was extremely good.

Rovers went into the game looking to defy the odds and dump a side with far greater resources than them from the competition.

Nobody would have doubted the belief in Michael O’Neill’s side to do just that on the basis of their start to the game.

The Hoops played with confidence and moved the ball with pace and intention. The visitors knoew they were in a game right from the off.

Perhaps the key moment in the tie came in the 18th minute when Chris Turner brilliantly connected with Enda Stevens’ left wing cross. With Copenhagen keeper John Wiland left rooted to the spot, the home fans could not believe their misfortune as the ball smashed off the crossbar.

That moment gave the Hoops every incentive to push forward but it is often a case of a matter of inches that determines success or failure and Turner’s missed opportunity fitted that description.

Rovers continued to push on to try and take the lead on the night and level the tie on aggregate but their opponents retained an air of threat about them on the break.

Hoops keeper Ryan Thompson showed his shot-stopping ability with an impressive low stop to deny Dame N’Doye in the 26th minute.

A volley narrowly over from midfielder Claudemir from an awkward angle in the 35th minute was another cameo of the quality lurking beneath the surface in of a relatively pedestrian Copenhagen performance.

Just as it seemed certain the sides would go in level at the break Rovers suffered a sucker punch from a Christian Bolanos corner in the 42nd minute. The corner skimmed the head of defender Pat Sullivan, beat keeper Thompson and N’Doye found himself free to scramble home at the back post.

The Hoops did not let their heads drop and started the second half at a ferocious pace. Turner have a shot comfortably saved three minutes after the restart.

Gary Twigg then headed inches wide from a Gary McCabe free-kick in the 55th minute as the Hoops laid siege on the Danish goal.

Unfortunately Rovers conceded a second goal in the 73rd minute. A left wing cross fell to Thomas Kristensen, who swept the ball back across. N’Doye got a powerful head to the cross and Thompson made a stunning save but Bolanos reacted first to head home the loose ball.

Thompson made another impressive stop to deny substitute Cesar Santin in the 87th minute. It would have been very flattering to the visitors to win by three.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Thompson; Sullivan, Stevens, Sives, Murray, Turner, McCormack, Finn (Rice 75), McCabe (Kelly 65), Twigg (Kilduff 75), Dennehy.

FC COPENHAGEN: Wiland, Sigurdsson, Bengtsson, Ottesen, Jørgensen,Claudemir, Grindheim, Kristensen (Absalonsen 91), Pape Paté Diouf (Santin 83), N'Doye,

Bolaños (Delaney 78).

Referee: H Özkahya (TUR)