By Rory Houston
Twitter: @roryhouston - E-mail: sportonline@rte.ie
2243 Ok folks, we have to go but thanks for your messages on this special night.
It has been a long road for Shamrock Rovers. They have made the breakthrough and what a special time it will be for them. The club struggled for so long in stadiums that were so far from what could be called home. Hoops fans, this is your night.
On the greater scale, the domestic game can move forward. The bar is raised and it will be hard to not take note.
I don't think the League of Ireland has made Reeling in the Years before, Pat Sullivan will be moving like Jagger on a screen near you in the future.
Thanks for all your messages and well done Shams. See you for the group stages!
2241 From John Clarke on Twitter: "My Dad has supported Rovers since he was a boy and to see him jump around tonight was brilliant. LOI on the way up."
2239 From Sinbad the Sailor: "Well done Rovers. Amazing achievement considering they were homelss for so many years."
Bit rich Sinbad!
2238 The draw is at 12pm to confirm.
2237 "Galway United fan sitting in Spain following your updates.
"Amazing to see Shams go through, delighted for Irish football. To think this time last year Steve O'Donnell was a Galway United player and how far we've fallen since. Delighted for him and all the Shams fans."
Dermot
2235 "What an incredible win for the Hoops, as a Donegal man I am very proud of this wonderful instutition I followed as a youngster called Shamrock Rovers, they have done everyone proud on this little island of ours, the best of luck to them in the next draw of the Europa League."
Paddy Donagher
2232 Following your Rovers/Belgrade match commentary online – just checking the likely top seeds for tomorrow’s draw.
"Seville, Roma, Rangers, Celtic, Panathinaikos, Spartak Moscow were all eliminated tonight, so the 12 top seeds in the draw look like being: Spurs, PSV, Atletico Madrid, Sporting Lisbon (still playing, late kickoff in Portugal), Sporting Braga, Schalke 04, Dynamo Kiev, PSG, Copenhagen, AZ Alkmaar, Anderlecht and Twente. With Fulham, Lazio and Udinese amongst the 2nd seeds.
Draw takes place at 2pm (irish time), in Monaco.
John in France
2230 Shamrock Rovers will arrive back in Dublin tomorrow to a heroes welcome. We'll have a full report shortly.
2227 "Sitting at work in a very warm Boston, following your excellent web commentary. This brings me back to all those freezing nights at Turner’s Cross, in a crowd of 1500, and looking for signs of real progress in the domestic game."
"This is a fantastic achievement and Ireland as a nation should be roaring Rovers on in the group stages!"
John in Boston
2225 "It's been a long time coming. Irish clubs have steadily improved their performances in Europe over the past few seasons. Well done Rovers for showing all the LoI that it can be done."
Eoin
2225 "Really really massive congratulations to Rovers. great game, great victory. Just an epic night that will love long in my memory despite the fact that I'm a Drogheda fan who cold only get sketchy audio coverage from here in Louth! So proud of that club and this league right now. Can't wait to tell everyone that Ireland has a team in the Europa League this year!!!!! Fan-bloody-tastic!"
Fionnán Howard
2223 Well done Shamrock Rovers! I was there in Coruna when Shels went 40 mins away from the Champions League group stages. This is the next step, a huge step.
No Scottish teams in Europe, how the tables have turned.
Mark - A Shels fan
2222 "I'm a Bohs fan and I've got to say I'll be celebrating this as much as the rovers fans..they have done themselves and the country proud..what a night for Irish football!!"
Shea
2221 "Unreal feeling here tonight reading the game on RTE. So proud of them lads as a Tallaght native to see them making history and bringing it back to their new home town. Well done Rovers."
Kieran Mulholland
2218 Think all League of Ireland fans can rejoice tonight. Well done the hoops from a Cork City fan. Superb performance.
2217 "Well done the Hoops. Finally a new dawn that hasn't turned immediately to dreary rain. Wish it was Cork City, but what can you do. Proud to be Irish tonight."
Greg
2216 Fantastic night for Rovers and for Irish Domestic football, So proud of the lads and What a goal by Sullivan, Goal of the season.
Martin , Pats fan in Trim
2214 Well done to the Hoops. They’ve just shown Europe and Ireland for that matter the high standard of the League of Ireland. From David, Sligo Rovers fan in Boston, USA.
2213 As a kid from Kildare I dreamed that one day a league of Ireland time might do something great in Europe!! Nothing beats this. Rovers you have made your country proud tonight! Paul
2212 Great news for the League of Ireland, well done to Micheal O;Neill and Shamrock Rovers
From a delighted Drogheda United supporter
2211 "Unbelievable! Fantastic night for League of Ireland as both Celtic and Rangers crash out. Finn Harps fan and I was cheering on the Shams."
Declan McGrath
2210 I'm a Sligo Rovers fan but even I am proud of Shamrock Rovers' achievements tonight. Magical night for Irish football, we'll keep posting your messages.
2209 "I'm calling out your report to my 97-year-old father. It was his birthday today! He can't believe what's happening!!! Come on Shams."
Dermot
2208 Summer soccer pays off at last for Irish football. Well done to the Shams!
Ken in Tulsa
2208 A credit to see a home grown side storm Europe - proof the FAI Emerging Talent Programme/ Underage programme is working. Irish soccer is the winer here , giving the kids something to aspire to.
2207 "Magic, great night for Irish domestic football after all the past pain and near misses."
From Gary in Cork
2207 "Bray Wanderers fan getting the text feed in the office in Mexico. Best of luck Rovers."
John Coyle
2205 "Unbelievable..In Edinburgh where all Scottish clubs are eliminated before the group stages and here are the minnows from Ireland going through (without and sky money!!)...unbelievable."
Paul Harrington
2204 I love the way Celtic are one of the most popular clubs in Ireland. Which Hoops are in the Europa League?
2203 Hoops fans rejoicing, lets get to your tweets and e-mails as we take all that in.
2201 It is all over, Shamrock Rovers have done it! They have made the breakthrough that Ireland have waited for. Michael O'Neill and his players have done the nation proud.
SHAMROCK ROVERS ARE THROUGH TO THE GROUP STAGES OF THE EUROPA LEAGUE
Full-time: Partizan 1-2 Shamrock Rvs
120 min And we're in added-time. The Hoops bench are ready to celebrate. The 50 or so fans must be overcome with emotion. Big Dec, line up the pint bottles.
119 min Every football fan in the country is on the edge of their seat now and ready to celebrate. What a performance by Shamrock Rovers. We're in the final minute.
118 min That is it, Medo hits out at Sheppard. They are a beaten side.
RED CARD - PARTIZAN BELGRADE - MEDO
118 min I'll get to your message shortly, coming in by the dozen!
115 min Side-netting from a shot from Partizan. I don't know by who, my hands are shaking to be honest! Come on Shams, hold out.
114 min Partizan have lost their heads and are struggling to get to the ball.
112 min He sent the goalkeeper the wrong way. Partizan need two goals to rescue this. History is about to be made.
112 min The greatest goal in the history of Irish football and it is a penalty kick from Stephen O'Donnell!
GOAL - SHAMROCK ROVERS - STEPHEN O'DONNELL
111 min It is a penalty to Shamrock Rovers as Sheppard is fouled by the goalkeeper. This is it!
PENALTY TO SHAMROCK ROVERS
110 min Oh why did this have to fall to Dan Murray! The ball drops to the former Cork captain and he loops it over from 10 yards. It was a crowded penalty area.
109 min Jovancic is allowed shoot on goal after a mistake by Sives. It is 10 yards out but the shot is weak. Thompson can safely gather.
108 min Murray is penalised for pushing once again. Partizan will work it up field now.
107 min Kilduff does superbly to win a corner. Murray will come forward, with Sives.
106 min Decent start for Rovers as they win a free and Kilduff battles bravely to keep the attack going.
2144 Away goals do count in extra-time to answer your question Phil. Back to the action now.
2143 Thomas Curtis, a Bohs fan, wishing Rovers the best of Twitter! The nation is behind you, come on lads.
2142 Reading the feed from Eindhoven in Holland. Seems like a great game. Lets hope Rovers don't end up like heroic losers like so many before them in the past.
Stephen
2142 Shamrock Rovers have reached half-time. It is just 15 minutes from penalties. Believe!
Half-time: Partizan 1-1 Shamrock Rvs
105 min The ball is worked out to Medo but his cross drifts away from the goal.
104 min Babovic's shot is blocked by Sives as we enter the added-time in the first half. It will be a corner.
103 min The tempo has dropped after that sub. Rovers trying to see it out to the break.
2139 "I'm reading this feed from Copenhagen in Denmark, I'm a Sligo Rovers fan but am supporting the Hoops tonight, come on Pat Sullivan."
Tom
How can a Sligo Rovers fan cheer on Shamrock Rovers? (joke)
102 min O'Donnell and Stevens keeping things tight on the left for Rovers and working so hard to keep the ball. Twigg going off for Kilduff. Thankless job tonight, but he put everything into it.
100 min Volkov comes in at the back post once more but Thompson manages to get to the ball first in another worrying moment for the Hoops. Hanging on now.
97 min Pat Sullivan puts in a brilliant challenge to stop Markovic getting a header in on goal.
94 min Sives' header from 10 yards is easy for the Partian keeper. Turner is on the ground after a clash of heads with Babovic.
93 min Huge shot for a penalty for Partizan as Thompson bundles over Lazar Markovic in the area as he tried to win the ball. The referee is not interested.
92 min It strikes the post! Thompson is nowhere near the ball and rebound from Rnic is knocked wide.
91 min Babovic has a free from 30 yards out and this is a dangerous moment.
2125 Extra-time is about to get underway.
2125 "Watching from Abu Dhabi in my hotel room, this would be great for domestic league. Come on guys!"
Brendan
2124 "Some performance from the lowest rank team left in the Europa League. Hopefully Partizan will panic and Rovers will get them on the break".
Kevin Kingston
2123 This is some performance from the shams. Go on!
Paul, Hereford
2123 "Come on the Hoops! Keeping track of the game from an offshore rig off a Russian Island off the east coast of Russia above Japan. KOH."
Shane Colwell
2122 "Like my friend from Staten Island, we’re waiting for Irene in Boston….and a winner from Rovers. Come on Rovers.
Brendan Mullen
2121 Ken Richardson, Limerick FC supporter in Tulsam, Oklahoma offers his best to the Hoops.
2120 Rovers have forced extra-time! The dream is alive for MO'N side.
Full-time: Partizan 1-1 Shamrock Rvs
90 + 2 min Both teams look happy to reach extra-time.....
90 min We're into two minutes of added-time.
88 min Stephen O'Donnell hasn't shown much of his talents in his Rovers career so far but he has impressed so much in this brief sub appearance. Another vital challenge to prevent Rnic from shooting at goal.
87 min Jovancic heads over the bar but Thompson had it covered.
86 min Rovers are forward again with Stevens sending in another long throw. It is a tactic they have used over and over again but no joy on this occasion. I fear for Rovers because the heat must surely be draining their energy. They might not be able to hold out for penalties.
83 min This has been a cracking half of football and it is anyone's for the taking. O'Donnell gets it away from a Partizan and the next stage of Partizan attack sees Murray head.
2110 "Preparing for Hurricane Irene in Staten Island, New York - give one last reason to smile Rovers."
Paul W. Casey
82 min Huge scare for Shams as the home side break and it is four against two in favour of Partizan. Sullivan gets in a fine tackle to clear the danger. It was a poor ball from the Partizan midfielder.
81 min Sheppard wins it back deep in the Partizan half and his cross into the area is just cleared with Twigg looking to slot home.
80 min Turner tries from distance on the half-volley with the ball sailing over the bar.
79 min Smiles from Ryan Thompson as he calmly kicks it away with Partizan players coming onto the ball.
77 min Good play from Rovers as they bring numbers up to attack but they can't create an opening. Just 13 minutes to full-time and 30 extra.
75 min Rovers have gone negative in recent minutes and they are inviting pressure on to them. Babovic pulls a shot to the right of Thompson's post. Even I'm getting nervous.
72 min Sullivan wins a throw after linking nicelt with Turner. It rebounds to O'Donnell who shoots aimlessly high and wide.
70 min O'Donnell makes an instant impact as he stops Babovic from a certain goal from six-yards. O'Donnell tracked his run all the way.
68 min O'Donnell is coming on for McCabe as Rovers freshen things up.
66 min Volkov puts in a dangerous cross that Thompson must gather underneath his crossbar.
64 min Babovic hits out at Stevens but the referee awards the free to Belgarde! Ridiculous decision. Rovers manage to clear the free-kick.
61 min Game on and as it stands we're 30 minutes from extra-time. Keep the head Shams.
59 min And for every League of Ireland fan who puts up with the ignorance of so many critics of the domestic game, point to this moment.
It is a sensational strike by Pat Sullivan that ignites the dreams of Shamrock Rovers fans from Tallaght to Belgrade. Partizan headed the ball away from a corner, it looped in the air to Sullivan and a first time volley sailed into the corner of net from 30 yards.
GOAL - SHAMROCK ROVERS - PAT SULLIVAN
56 min The home supporters are not pleased with these developments and are venting their frustration.
54 min Jovancic's cross is claimed by Thompson and Rovers break. Turner plays a ball cross-field to Sullivan of supreme quality but the former Cork City man's cross is blocked. They are really putting it to Partizan.
51 min Rovers have another chance to whip a cross in on goal but McCabe's free is too close to the goalkeeper.
50 min Vukic nearly seals the game for Partizan after slack marking by Stevens again. Vukic's shot from eight yards out goes over the bar but it was a dangerous moment for Rovers.
48 min So close for Rovers as Chris Turner rises in the Partizan box and his fantastic header strikes the outside of the post and goes wide. It came out of nothing from a Stevens cross.
46 min Good play by Ronan Finn to win the ball back and Medo puts in a late challenge to pick up a booking.
2032 Andrew McCarten saying "C'mon the Hoops" as we get set to begin the second half. Karl Sheppard is coming on for Billy Dennnehy.
2030 Cheer up Big Dec, it isn't over yet.
2018 Well, it is not going fully to play but Rovers are still in this game. Michael O'Neill's side have offered nothing going forward and that must change in the second half. O'Neill is likely to keep it tight until the last 20 minutes. Any Partizan goal before that and it will be tie over.
Half-time: Partizan 1-0 Shamrock Rvs
45 min Rice goes over on his ankle and it looks a sore one. We're entering stoppage time but these injuries will add to the half.
44 min The Partizan goalkeeper collided with the read end of Dan Murray and has a huge shiner as a result. I'm not touching that one. Anyway, it means he might not return for the second half because it really is a nasty hit.
43 min Medo needlessly heads the ball away for a corner for Shamrock Rovers. Murray rises for the ball from Dennehy's cross but the referee blows for an infringement.
41 min Tomic curls the free wide of the post. Shams can gather themselves once again. Just four minutes to the break.
39 min Dennehy gives away a free-kick on the edge of the Rovers area after a high foot. Great chance for Partizan.
37 min Short-term goal for Rovers now is reach half-time without conceding again. They can still get to extra-time by scoring one, providing they do not concede again.
35 min Volkov rises from a corner ahead of Enda Stevens and, with Thompson flat-footed behind his line, it is a simple goal for the Serbian side. Partizan 1-0 Shamrock Rovers.
GOAL - PARTIZAN - VOLKOV
32 min Ivanov's shot is deflected away as the pressure slightly increases on Rovers.
30 min Gary Twigg is down with an injury in a worrying moment for Michael O'Neill's men. It looks to be a back problem.
28 min What a save by Ryan Thompson. The Jamaican goalkeeper dives brilliantly to the left to push Volkov's shot away from goal. That was the best chance of the game so far. Brilliant stop.
26 min Most of the game is being played in midfield and it is suiting Rovers. They are stopping Partizan getting in dangerous areas.
22 min Rovers are doing well and putting Partizan under pressure when the Serbian side are on the ball. Twigg is lacking in support. It will be a thankless job for the Scottish striker.
19 min Stevens sends in another long throw to test Partizan and truthfully they look a bit shaky. Rovers will keep trying this tactic of long balls and set-pieces. It paid off last week. Partizan have been poor in recent minutes. Good start for Rovers.
17 min Ronan Finn shows his class by winning the ball in midfield and racing down the left of the field. Finn cut back and shot to the near post with Ilic making a relatively comfortable save.
16 min The Premier Division holders have done well so far. They just need to make sure their set-piece deliveries improve. It is their best hope of scoring tonight.
13 min Another chance for Rovers to get players into the box as Stephen Rice has a free just inside the Partizan half. The midfielder's delivery is woeful, much to the annoyance of Dan Murray and co.
11 min First threat from the Hoops as a long-throw gives Twigg the chance to cross but there is too much power on the cross. Shams had decent numbers up on that occasion.
10 min Sives heads away from Eduardo's cross from the left. All the danger has been coming from that side. It has been a tough job for Twigg so far. Plenty of running and trying to beat two defenders to the ball.
8 min The free-kick comes to nothing after Turner's foul. Partizan work their way up the field and Tomic's cross is punched away by Thompson.
6 min Thompson got treatment after that poor kick-out but he is OK to continue. Rovers have settled down and now have a free-kick they will launch forward from the half-way line.
4 min It is nearly a disaster for Rovers as Thompson fluffs the kick-out and Jovancic gets a clear run on goal. Thompson comes off his line but Jovancic's shot is just wide of the post. That was a magnificent chance.
3 min Thompson gathers the cross and clears the danger for the Hoops.
2 min Bad start for Rovers as Craig Sives gives the ball away and Dan Murray is forced into a foul 30 yards from goal.
1927 Atmosphere is fantastic in Belgrade judging by television pictures.
1925 Kick-off is just five minutes away. Good luck Shamrock Rovers. I think you might need it.
1920 It is a huge ask of Shamrock Rovers tonight. They have found goals hard to come by in European matches. A lot has been made of Gary Twigg's lack of goals in his European outings. What a night it would be to put that to bed.
1915 Vukic returns from suspension for Partizan. Radisa Ilic comes in for Stankovic in goal.
1912 Partizan Belgrade: Radisa Ilic, Volkov, Medo, Rankovic, Tomic, Eduardo, Vukic, Ivanov, Jovancic, Sasa Ilic, Rnic. Subs:
Petrovic, Stankovic, Ninkovic, Nikola Aksentijevic, Babovic,
Lazar Markovic, Smiljanic.
1905 There are a few English and Scottish teams in European action tonight as well. You can keep track of their scores here. We'll be focusing on Irish action only tonight.
1900 No surprises in the Shamrock Rovers team. Gary Twigg will play as the long striker.
1850 Shamrock Rovers: Ryan Thompson, Pat Sullivan, Dan Murray, Craig Sives, Enda Stevens, Gary McCabe, Stephen Rice, Chris Turner, Ronan Finn, Billy Dennehy, Gary Twigg.
1630 Shamrock Rovers are in Belgrade tonight looking to reach the group stages of the Europa League. It is advantage Partizan as they have an away goal from the first leg in Tallaght Stadium.
Rovers need to score to have any hope of going through. Kick-off is 7:30pm. We'll be building to the game from 7pm.
