Competition: Europa Conference League Group F
Date: 13 October 2022
Result: Shamrock Rovers 0 – 2 Molde
Tickets: I’ve decided I’m all in for Shamrock Rovers Europa Conference League Group Stage. €75 for the three Shamrock Rovers home games. €30 for kids for the same. There were more expensive tickets, but I don’t need to be in the padded seats!
Attendance: 5,860
Game/ Experience Rating: ⭐⭐
The Game: With Shamrock Rovers coming under increasing pressure at the top of the League of Ireland, Stephen Bradley has made it clear their priority is no longer Europe, but ensuring they maintain their Irish title. Which is a shame, but I get it: trying to get out of this group was always going to be a big ask, and while any kind of result is worth a serious cash influx, it’s unlikely to top the totals involved in doing it all again from the position of Champions (which vastly increases your chances of a group stage as well as the obvious implicit benefit) next season.
This was not a sparkling performance, and I think that’s a shame as despite losing 0-3 away and 0-2 today, I feel Molde are beatable for Rovers on their day. In fact, had a very good chance in the opening minutes been put away – a fairly easy one on one – this could have been a very different story.
It turned out, instead, Molde got a relatively routine win in which Shamrock Rovers’ threat seemed to fade throughout. A disappointing performance and officially the end of the campaign, though it’ll be interesting to see KAA Gent drop by in a couple of weeks time.
The ground: The North Stand is finally coming together and starting to look like a nice shiny new stand. Disappointing attendance today, though.
Extras: We bought foam fingers for the kids. I’m not even sorry. Don’t make a habit of going in the shop, though! There are new fire hype things for pitchside before the game, which I quite liked (and so did the kids).
Assorted asides: Rovers only drew away to Drogheda on Sunday. The title race really is on, now.
My totals for the year so far:
Games: 11. Home wins: 6 Draws: 1 Away wins: 4
Goals: 31. Home goals: 16. Away goals: 15. Goals per game: 2.82
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