ROVERS HAVE IT BALLK' TO DO AFTER KOSOVO DEFEAT

SHAMROCK Rovers face an uphill task to keep their European dreams alive after last night's 1-0 loss to Kosovo's Ballkani in Conference League qualifying action.

- OISIN DOHERTY

The hosts started the brighter at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina, which was so sparsely populated you could hear practically every roar from the visitors’ bench.

Not that they had too much to shout about in the early stages of the contest.

Ballkani kept the ball well, but struggled to break down a stubborn Shamrock Rovers side that from the off looked content to sit back and try to hit the Kosovan side on the break.

There were warning signs for the Premier Division leaders from the early stages. Aimir Kryeziu showed a clean pair of heels to evade a Rovers defender and slip-in Giovanni, whose ‘square ball just evaded the lively Sunday Adetunji for what would have been a certain goal.

That seemed to give the home side more confidence, with Adetunji in particular proving a real handful for defenders Roberto Lopes and Dan Cleary.