Shamrock Rovers failed to advance to the third qualifying round of the Champions League despite winning their second round, second leg qualifier against Ararat-Armenia in Tallaght 2-1, with the Armenian side progressing 3-2 on aggregate.
Rovers will now play KF Egnatia from Albania next Tuesday in the third qualifying round for the Europa League with the first leg in Tallaght.
Despite leading 2-0 at half time through Matt Healy and Aaron Greene, a 73rd minute goal by 35-year-old Brazilian striker Sandro Lima sent the visitors through at Rovers’ expense.
Before kick-off the Hoops introduced new signing Will Fitzgerald, the now former Sligo Rovers captain who moved Tallaght for a fee believed to be in the region of €75,000.
Rovers were almost undone in the seventh minute as Jack Byrne played a short corner to Jake Mulraney who dallied too long on the ball on the edge of the area and was easily dispossessed as the visitors launched a speedy counterattack.
With so many Rovers players up for the corner, they were shy at the back and Zidane Banjaqui fed Lima who should have punished the home side instead of hitting the post before being cleared.
That chance served to galvanise the Hoops as they took the lead on the night when Matt Healy smacked a left-footed shot to the net from just inside the area after being set up by Graham Burke. After an interminably long six minute VAR check, the goal eventually stood.
To say that the home crowd’s patience was tested would be an understatement as referee Sam Barrott of England and VAR officials kept the players and supporters on tenterhooks for much much longer than necessary, with no hint as to what was being checked.
Rovers should have levelled up the tie in the 33rd minute after good intricate play on the right side of the Ararat area saw Mulraney cross to Adam Brennan, who after getting in front of his marker, headed the bouncing ball over the bar.
Matt Healy scores the opener
But the home side didn’t have long to wait for the second as Ararat keeper João Bravim hesitated in possession after a short back pass in his area and Aaron Greene was on the ball in a flash, feeding Jack Byrne who rolled it back to Greene and stroked it to the net.
Greene and Dylan Watts both had chances to score a third for Rovers before the break as the last action of the half saw Mulraney put a free kick straight at Bravim.
Leading 2-0 at the break, Rovers survived a real scare as a thumping low drive from the Ararat captain Karen Muradyan flew narrowly wide.
Moments later at the other end Bravim was at full stretch to save a Pico Lopes header from Byrne’s free-kick.
Greene also hit the side netting in the 68th minute after a lovely through ball by Brennan who then set-up Burke in the area minutes later but shot straight at Bravim with the goal at his mercy.
For all their chances Rovers then conceded in the 73rd minute as substitute Franca, only on the pitch a minute took off on a mazy run that got him to the byline before crossing as it was poked away by Sobowale to Lima who took a touch before putting Ararat back ahead in the tie.
Byrne forced another flying save from Bravim and Danny Watts hammered a goal bound shot off a defender’s legs as Rovers chased a response.
Stephen Bradley on brought on Danny Mandroiu who saw first team action for the first time since the FAI Cup semi-final win against Kerry last October. But it was to no avail as Ararat held on to advance as Rovers disappointingly bowed out of this season’s Champions League.
Shamrock Rovers: Edward McGinty; Tunmise Sobowale, Roberto Lopes ©, Lee Grace (Danny Mandroiu 84); Jake Mulraney (Enda Stevens 77), Dylan Watts Naj Razi 84), Jack Byrne, Matthew Healy, Adam Brennan; Graham Burke (Michael Noonan 88), Aaron Greene (Jonathan Afolabi 77)
Ararat-Armenia: João Bravim; Alexandros Malis, Bruno Wilson, Junior Julio Bueno; Hugo Oliveira (Luis Felipe 90+4) Karen Muradyan (c), Maxence Carlier (Mishel Ayvazyan 83), Edgar Grigoryan; Artur Serobyan (Franca 72), Sandro Lima (Alioune Ndour 90+4) , Zidane Banjaqui (Zhirayr Shaghoyan 83).
Referee: Sam Barrott (Eng)
Attendance: 6731