Shamrock Rovers enjoyed their first win of the UEFA Conference League with goals from Graham Burke, Danny Grant and substitute John McGovern giving the Hoops victory over Maltese champions Hamrun Spartans.
The visitors finished the game with 10 men as Joseph Mbong was given a straight red card in the 27th minute for an over-the-top challenge on Victor Ozhianvuna.
Around 500 visiting supporters were on hand to cheer their team on, which included a small brass band that added to the atmosphere on a cold and windy night in Tallaght.
Before the game it was announced that Josh Honohan was leaving the Hoops, with the 24-year-old given the opportunity to say goodbye to the home supporters before his move to English League One side Lincoln City.
Rovers could have been in front as early as the second minute as Burke got free on the left before setting up Rory Gaffney, but his side-footed effort was saved by Henry Bonello before Marcelina Emerson completed the clearance.
Stephen Bradley’s side made the breakthrough in the 13th minute as Dylan Watts’ goal-bound shot was handled in the area by Vincenzo Polito and Burke converted the penalty, the Dubliner sending the keeper the wrong way for his third goal of the league phase.
Graham Burke scores from the penalty spot
Spartans almost equalised moments later only for Saliou Thioune to be denied by a fine save by Ed McGinty. The equaliser did arrive on 20 minutes through N’Dri Koffi.
After a huge scramble inside the area Mouad El Fanis’ initial shot was blocked before McGinty denied Thioune’s follow up, but Koffi managed to squeeze home the equaliser.
Cue the brass band in the East Stand.
The musicians were silenced after 25 minutes when Mbang was shown a straight red card by Czech referee Marek Radina after a poor challenge on Ozhianvuna.
With the numerical advantage, Rovers retook the lead in the fourth minute of added time as Gaffney’s header inside the area was saved one handed by Bonello only for Burke to pick up the loose ball and square for Grant to tap home.
Rovers laid siege to the Spartans goal after break. Gaffney struck the post, Grant hit the side netting and Gaffney again brought out a fine save from Bonello at his near post in the 67th minute as Bradley’s side hunted for a third goal.
Substitute John McGovern also went close late on before the icing on the cake arrived in the fourth minute of added time as McGovern rolled the ball to the net having been set up by Cory O’Sullivan.
Rovers end the league phase with four points and €400,000 in prize money, but for both clubs, it is the end of the European road.
Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty, Dan Cleary (Max Kovalevskis 71), Roberto Lopez, Cory O’Sullivan: Danny Grant (Conor Malley 72), Victor Ozhianvuna (Sean Kavanagh 78), Matt Healy, Dylan Watts, Adam Mathews, Graham Burke (John McGovern 72) Rory Gaffney, (Aaron Greene 78)
Spartans: Henry Bonello, Rafael Compri, Marcelina Emerson, Vincenzo Polito, Nikolai Micallef (Domastas Simkus 76), Joseph Mbong, N’Dri Koffi (Ederson 61), Matais Garcia (Jovan Cadenovic 46), Ognjen Bjelicic, Mouad El Fanis (Ante Coric 76); Saliou Thioune (Stijn Meijer 46)
Referee: Marek Radina (Czech Republic)
Attendance: 5,810