Rovers campaign ends in heartbreak despite ‘unbelievable passion’

Shamrock Rovers fans showed “unbelievable passion” as they followed their team through a historic European campaign.

Rovers were the first League of Ireland club to reach the knockout stages of a major European competition.

But the journey ended in heartbreak as the team failed to secure a place in the last 16 of the Uefa Conference League, with a defeat on penalties to Norwegian squad Molde in Dublin on Thursday.

Colm Nolan said: “Being a Rovers fan is great, you’re part of a big community. There might be 10,000 people here inside but you’ll know so many people.

He said it was “great” for an Irish club to have progressed to the knockout stages, adding: “And its great for the standard and the profile of the League.”

Mr Nolan, from Dun Laoghaire, said the club’s campaign was met with “sheer passion” among the fanbase, further inspiring many young boys and girls to support Irish football.

Support for Rovers extends far beyond Dublin, as some fans were keen to point out.

Cian McCormack, 12, said he was excited to be there for the match, having come from Cashel in Co Tipperary.

His father Paraic, a Rovers fan since 1999, said: “It has been brilliant – it has been a great year and we’ve had a few good occasions.”

Local man Paul Halpin said he had been a Rovers fan all his life but acknowledged Thursday’s fixture was a “big, big game”.

His nephews, Ross and Cillian Halpin, also from Tallaght, are season ticket holders.

Ross, 16, said: “I just love coming to the games, it is really close and the fans are really good.”

Acknowledging how far Rovers had progressed, his uncle added that getting to the knockout stages came with “bragging rights” – but that supporters would have liked to have got to the final 16.