ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC 1 KARPATY LVIV 3 (1 -5 on aggregate) ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC saw one of the most unforgettable of European adventures for an Irish club end with a Europa League Third Qualifying Round loss to Karpaty Lviv.

The Saints have been to Iceland, Kazakhstan and the Ukraine in Europe this year but their final fling in the competition had the potential to be greatly overshadowed by events in the lead up to the tie.

After intense speculation surrounding the game even taking place, St Pat’s eventually did turn up and produced a credible display in their adopted Tallaght Stadium home on the night.

Leading 2-0 from the first leg, the Ukrainians looked in the mood to end the tie early and only an important challenge from Brian Shortall denied Lucas Perez Martinez a first minute goal after a brilliant ball from Borja Gomez.

The quality in the Lviv ranks was summed up with their opening goal in the 22nd minute.

Sergei Zenjov produced a fantastic curling shot from edge of the box to beat Saints keeper Gary Rogers with aplomb.

Pete Mahon’s side did not flounder though and two minutes before the break they had a half-chance to level when Derek Pender fired in a deep free-kick, Derek Doyle headed on and David McMillan’s flicked effort was saved by keeper Andriy Tlumak.

The home fans did celebrate an equaliser on the night when Evan McMillan fired home from close range in the 57th minute. Substitute Ian Daly showed great skill to send in a low cross which Shortall flicked on for his defensive partner to score.

Unfortunately the class of the visitors meant that faints hopes of a comeback died soon after.

Igor Khudobyak showed real quality to find the net with a beautiful curling effort in the 64th minute that once again the home keeper Rogers could do little to stop. 

With the game really stretched Lviv added a third in the 82nd minute when Igor Oshchypko drilled home from close range after Shortall had scrambled an Andriy Tkachuk effort away from the line with Rogers beaten.

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Rogers; Pender, Bermingham, E McMillan (Kenna 68) , Shortall, McFaul, Mulcahy, Bradley (Daly 23), Kavanagh, D McMillan, Doyle (North 61).

KARPATY LVIV: Tlumak; Fedetskiy, Milošević, Gómez, Tkachuk, Oshchypko, Khudobyak, Kopolovets (Voronkov 55), Martynyuk, Zenjov (Pacheco 68), Pérez Martínez (Cristóbal 76).

Referee: O Hategan (ROU)