Sligo Rovers beat Scottish Premier League side Motherwell 2-0 in front of a packed Showgrounds on Thursday night to progress to the third qualifying round of the Europa Conference League in spectacular fashion.
Rovers progress 3-0 on aggregate on a history-making night for the club – as it’s the first time they’ve got through two rounds of a European club competition.
Two spectacular goals from Shane Blaney in the first half, and substitute Max Mata in the second propelled Rovers into round three and sent Motherwell tumbling out of the competition.
Click below the hear how the Ocean FM Sport commentary team of Donal Ryan and Sean Connor described the goals…
What a strike, Shane Blaney! 🚀
A 2-0 aggregate lead for @sligorovers 🙌🏻
A dream start at The Showgrounds! 🔴
— SSE Airtricity League (@SSEAirtricityLg) July 28, 2022
Max Mata seals it for @sligorovers! 🔴
“Sligo Rovers have put on a show, and they are making history tonight” 🎙
Incredible scenes at The Showgrounds 👀 pic.twitter.com/62cgiNd8ql
— Premier Sports (@PremierSportsTV) July 28, 2022
Rovers now play Viking FK of Norway in the next round.
The away leg will be next Thursday night.
Elsewhere, there was more League of Ireland success in Europe as St Patrick’s Athletic beat Mura on penalties in Slovenia to also progress to the third qualifying round.
Europa Conference League – 2nd Qualifying Rd, 2nd Leg results
Sligo Rovers 2 Motherwell 0 (Rovers win 3-0 on agg)
Viking FK 2 Sparta Prague 1 (Viking win 2-1 on agg)
Mura 0 St Patrick’s Athletic 0 (1-1 on agg – St Pat’s won 6-5 on penalties)
Sligo Rovers: McNicholas, Banks, Buckley, Blaney, Kirk; McDonnell (Pijnaker 80), Morahan (Mata 69); O’Sullivan, Cawley (Barlow 80), Fitzgerald (Liivak 89); Keena.
