BRAVE HOOPS DONE BY ED'S DEFLECTION

Shamrock Rovers 1 Shakhtar Donetsk 2

- BY MARK McCADDEN

SIX POINTS from their final two games - that's what Shamrock Rovers need if they are to keep their dream of another post-Christmas European run alive.

Last night’s narrow defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk means Stephen Bradley's side need wins away to Breidablik and at home to Hamrun Spartans to have any chance of making it past the league phase of the Conference League.

They will take confidence from much of their display against Shakhtar's €150million side as they head into the business end of the campaign.

In the end, a deflected goal was key for the Ukrainians, who were backed by a strong away support.

The away section in the 9,226-strong crowd was packed, while there were plenty more dotted around the rest of Tallaght Stadium.

Shakhtar's fans held up a banner that read, “Thank you Eire’, in recognition of the welcome given to tens of thousands who arrived here, fleeing the Russian invasion.

And as their players emerged onto the pitch, they were each draped in a Ukrainian flag. The sense of national pride even extended to a pair of Shakhtar fans embracing a Dinamo Kiev supporter for a halftime picture.