Shamrock Rovers exited the Champions League in meek fashion at the very first hurdle against Icelandic champions Breidablik.
The Hoops were beaten 2-1 in Kopavogur to complete a 3-1 aggregate defeat following last week's defeat in Tallaght.
Stephen Bradley's side now drop into the Europa Conference League second qualifying round and if they are to make it to the group stages of that competition for the second season in a row, they will now have to do it the hard way – progressing through three consecutive ties over the next six weeks.
That looks a tough task after their poor showing across the two games against Breidablik.
The home team sat off more in the opening stages of the game but ten minutes in they begin to push on and get on top of the Hoops. There were half-hearted shouts for a penalty when Breidablik skipper Hoskuldur Gunnlaugsson went down in the box with Dan Cleary in close attendance.
The Icelandic champions then created a trio of chances in a four-minute period, scoring from the third one. First, the goal scorer from Tallaght, Damir Muminovic, wasted a backpost header from a corner when he was under no pressure.
Alex Sigurdarson then should have scored after racing onto a Viktor Einarsson through pass but he couldn’t beat Leon Pohls.
The visitors couldn't say they weren’t warned and in the 16th minute found themselves a goal down on the night. Breidablik doubled their advantage when Jason Svathorsson took the ball on from halfway, getting by Pico Lopes before slotting it home by Pohls.
The Hoops had the ball in the net in the 20th minute after Rory Gaffney raced through clear on goal. However, the offside flag went up quickly with VAR then confirming that the decision from the assistant referee was correct.
Rovers really seemed to miss the natural width of the injured Neil Farrugia or Trevor Clarke and lacked penetration to get in behind the home side.
Pohls pulled off a brilliant save with his foot to stop Svanthorsson scoring his second as Rovers rode their luck but from the resulting corner Breidablik worked the ball for Gunnlaugsson to heading home and effectively the Irish champions' chances.
Rovers did get a lifeline in the 64th minute with a handball in the box that required a VAR check on the sideline monitor from the Swedish referee. Graham Burke slotted home the spot kick for his eight goal in Europe – his side's first in their last four matches.
Burke then audaciously almost grabbed a second moments later, shooting from 45 yards and goalkeeper Anton Einarsson doing well to push out the ball out before he back-peddled over the goalline.
Rovers will have to wait until Wednesday evening to find out who their opponents are in the Europa Conference League qualifiers.
They will face the defeated team from the KI Klaksvik and Ferencvaros tie, those teams having played out a scoreless draw last week in the first leg in the Faroe Islands.
Breidablik: Einarsson; Gunnlaugsson (capt), Margeirsson, Muminović, Yeoman (Adalsteinsson 88); Sigurdarson (Ingvarsson 81), Sigurjónsson, Einarsson; Svanthórsson (Hlynsson 81), Steindórsson (Orrason 88), Eyjólfsson.
Shamrock Rovers: Pohls; Hoare, Lopes, Cleary; Finn (capt) (Grace 86), O'Neill, Poom (Watts 70), Towell (Greene 70), Kavanagh; Burke (Kenny 78), Gaffney.
Referee: Adam Ladeback (Sweden)
