Shamrock Rovers suffer penalty heartbreak in UEL exit to Molde | OneFootball

Shamrock Rovers suffered penalty heartbreak as they bowed out of the Europa Conference League to Norwegian side Molde at the Tallaght Stadium in Dublin.

Leading 1-0 from the first-leg, Rovers' advantage was lost within 10 minutes, after a defensive mix-up between keeper Edward McGinty and his defence saw the ball spill to Magnus Wolff Eikrem, who struck home from just outside the box.

The League of Ireland side did not allow the early blow to ruin all their work from last Thursday, and with the hero of that night, 16-year-old Michael Noonan, leading the line, more than held their own against the Norwegians.

As the game headed towards an added 30 minutes, Molde defender Isak Amundsen was dismissed for a second yellow, giving Michael Bradley's young side huge belief in a famous win, which failed to materialise in the cruelest of circumstances in the shootout.

Aaron Greene was the fall guy, being the one player to miss in a 5-4 victory for the Norwegians.

Rovers can hold their heads high after a brilliant campaign, but their quest to become the first Irish side since the now-defunct Limerick in 1980 to make the last 16 of a European competition is over for another year.

📸 Charles McQuillan - 2024 Getty Images