SHAMROCK ROVERS went down to an unfortunate 3-0 loss to Russian stars Rubin Kazan at Tallaght Stadium in their opening Europa League group stages game.

 

For the Hoops, who won the First Division in 2006 after their own fans took control of the club, this game was proof of the journey the club had successfully travelled in the past decade.

For Irish football, it was the first time that one of the clubs from this country had played in the group stages of a UEFA competition and it was obviously a major step up in class. The fact that the Russian side with their vastly superior resources looked at a higher level than Rovers was not going to be a surprise.

As things turned out Michael O'Neill's side produced enough on the night to suggest that they can go into their remaining Group A fixtures with the belief that they will provide a difficult obstacle for any of their opponents.

Unfortunately the visitors grabbed hold of the tie as early as the third minute when Gökdeniz Karadeniz did brilliantly on the left to cut the ball back for former Newcastle United striker Obafemi Martins to sweep home from close range.

Rovers shook off that blow to play with a fair degree of confidence and Stephen O'Donnell was unfortunate to head narrowly over from a left wing cross by Rohan Ricketts after good work by Gary Twigg in the build-up.

Rubin were handed a major boost in the 35th minute when Martins used his pace to get behind the Rovers defence and was taken down in the penalty area by Craig Sives for a spot-kick.

When the dust settled Rovers keeper Ryan Thompson proved his quality with a brilliant stop to keep out the penalty from Nelson Valdes and then he was brave to react first and deny his opponents from the rebound.

Substitute Petr Bystrov gave Kazan further quality out wide and in the fifth minute of the second half his right wing cross was poorly cleared by midfielder Conor McCormack and Christian Noboa produced a stunning strike to make it 2-0.

Rovers reacted quickly and could have pulled one back less than a minute later when Ricketts fired in a brilliant cross from the left which Twigg flicked on only for keeper Sergei Ryzhikov to save brilliantly from close range.

The tie ended on the hour when the impressive Gökdeniz Karadeniz drilled into the roof of the net from just inside the box after slip pass by Bebras Natcho.

Rovers received a major boost in the 63rd minute when Twigg intercepted a tame header back towards his own goal from Vitali Kaleshin and was pulled down by defender Cesar Navas for a penalty.

After a lengthy enough delay Stephen O'Donnell stepped up to take the spot-kick. He had been the hero last time out in Belgrade but this time he failed to pick his spot and keeper Ryzhikov saved with his legs.

The woodwork saved Rovers in the 69th minute when a low strike by Natcho struck the base of Thompson's left upright after the midfielder unleashed a bullet of a strike from 30 yards out.

Rovers finished strongly with substitute Billy Dennehy forcing a good save with a low free-kick from 25 yards out in the 81st minute then the same player fired over a left wing cross that bounced off Chris Turner's shins with the goal at his mercy.

It may have been a defeat but it was a great night for Shamrock Rovers and Irish football in general.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Thompson; Sullivan, Stevens, Sives, Murray, Rice, McCormack (Dennehy 55), O'Donnell, Finn (Kilduff 55), Ricketts (Turner 63), Twigg.

RUBIN KAZAN: Ryzhikov; César Navas, Kaleshin (Ansaldi 74), Bocchetti, Sharonov, Ryazantsev, Noboa, Gökdeniz Karadeniz, Natcho, Martins (Bystrov 46), Valdez (Dyadyun 63).

Referee: Zsolt Szabó (HUN)