Shamrock Rovers   0-2    Juventus

                                           Amauri 3, 75

After dumping Israeli side Bnei Yehuda out of the competition in their second round clash, Shamrock Rovers were high on confidence going into this game and there was a fantastic atmosphere at Tallaght Stadium.

However, they were stunned inside the opening three minutes when Juventus took the lead through Amauri. The Brazilian striker linked up well with playmaker Diego before slotting into the net despite the best efforts of Dan Murray to hook it clear.

That slick counter attack caught Rovers offguard, but they responded by putting some decent patterns of play together with Chris Turner and Robert Bayly excelling in centre midfield.

Juventus showed their class in flashes with Simone Pepe coming close with a header and Diego blasted a shot wide following a misplaced pass from Craig Sives.

Murray had a half chance for the home side, but their best chance in the first period fell to Aidan Price, whose header was deflected over by Marco Motta after he had got up to meet James Chambers' corner.

The Italian team were a joy to watch at times with Diego acting as puppeteer in the No 10 role, while Amauri proved to be a constant threat up front for the Serie A gaints.

After the interval, Rovers almost levelled matters when Murray rose highest to connect with Thomas Stewart's cross, but his powerful header was just wide.

Then Turner fired over after a surging run forward before Juventus turned things in their favour and showed just how devastating they can be when Amauri turned his marker and struck the post with his shot.

The former Palermo striker didn't have to wait long to light up the scoreboard again when he headed in Motta's cross following another quick breakaway from the visitors.

Amauri and Alessandro Del Piero had chances late on to add to the scoreline, but both were off-target. So Rovers conceded two away goals and have a lot to do going into next week's second leg, but their overall performance is one that they should be proud of.

Shamrock Rovers: Mannus; Sives, Price, Murray, Stevens; Chambers (Kavanagh 77), Rice (Dennehy 65), Turner, Bayly (Bradley 90), Stewart; Twigg.

Substitutes Not Used: Jennings, Flynn, Murphy, O'Connor.

Juventus: Stoari; Motta, Chiellini, Bonucci, De Ceglie; Pepe, Sissoko, Marchisio (Ekdal 89), Lanzafame (Martinez 51); Diego (Del Piero 82), Amauri.

Substitutes Not Used: Manninger, Grygera, Ferrero, Trezeguet.

Referee: D Fernandez Borbalan (ESP).

Luigi Delneri got the opportunity to put his charges through their paces in training on the lush turf of the Dublin venue on the eve of the game.

For Rovers, meantime, the game represents a major highlight in the short lifetime at the venue and promises to be another night of the long, illustrious history of European occasions.

The priority from the this first leg for Hoops boss Michael O'Neill is to keep things tight and channel their efforts into preventing the visitors from taking away goals with them for the return venture seven days hence.

He said: "The longer the game stays at nil-nil, the longer the tie is very much alive.

"At some point, obviously, to come through, we know that we have to score and our best chance of doing that is probably here in Tallaght.

"However, if you look at European football now, the idea that you have to score at home no longer exists. The main priority is not to lose a goal at home. And obviously we'll be doing our utmost to make sure that we don't.

"In the previous round, we did against Bnei Yehuda which left us having to go out there and score. Thankfully we were good enough to do that but I would anticipate that it would be a little more difficult against Juventus."

Republic of Ireland Under-17 Head Coach Sean McCaffrey has announced a squad of 18 players to participate in the upcoming eight-nation friendly tournament in Hungary from August 4-7...

Republic of Ireland Under-17 Head Coach Sean McCaffrey has announced a squad of 18 players to participate in the upcoming eight-nation friendly tournament in Hungary from August 4-7.

McCaffrey and his panel will fly to Budapest on Monday to prepare for the opening fixture two days later, August 4, against Croatia in Telki (17.00 hrs).

Depending on results from the opening day, Ireland will face either Hungary or Belgium the following day, Thursday August 5, at a venue to be confirmed. The final day's fixtures are scheduled for Saturday August 7, when Ireland take on a nation from the other group featuring Czech Republic, Israel, Romania and Serbia.

Dublin club Belvedere have the largest representation in the squad with four players - Sean Kavanagh, Pierce Sweeney, Gareth Brady and Darragh Lenihan.

Striker Philip Roberts, the scorer both Ireland's goals in a 2-1 win over Czech Republic last season, is included having recently completed his switch to Arsenal from Norwich City. He is joined in the squad by fellow Gunner, defender Steven Smith.

The games will be used to warm up for the UEFA first phase qualification series in which Ireland are due to meet Albania, Norway and mini-group hosts Malta from 25-30 September aiming to claim one of the two qualifying places into the elite phase.

McCaffrey has also unveiled his Under-19 squad for the double-header friendly against Ukraine in Dublin on Monday, August 9 and Wednesday, August 11.

Manchester United winger Robbie Brady, part of last season's Under-19 squad which brought their qualification bid to the final game of elite stage, is chosen along with his Old Trafford clubmate Sean McGinty, who captained the Irish Under-17s last term.

Four home-based players are amongst the 18 player panel. Former Republic of Ireland Schools international Daryl Horgan represents Salthill Devon while Stephen McDonnell (Dundalk), Craig Walsh (Shamrock Rovers) and Patrick McEleney (Derry City) also make the squad.

Republic of Ireland Under-17 Squad
Joe Coll - Manchester United
Ian Lawlor - Manchester City
Sean Kavanagh - Belvedere
Luke Gallagher - Cherry Orchard
Pierce Sweeney - Belvedere
Joe O'Brien - Salthill Devon
Steven Smith - Arsenal
Tommy Hoban - Watford
Conor Pepper - Portmarnock
Kenneth McEvoy - Tottenham Hotspur
Gareth Brady - Belvedere
Kealan Dillon - Derby County
Darragh Lenihan - Belvedere
Jack Grealish - Aston Villa
Carel TioFack - Ipswich Town
James Murphy - Reading
Philip Roberts - Arsenal
Sam Byrne - St Joseph's Boys

Republic of Ireland Under-19 Squad

Sean McDermott - Arsenal
Aaron McCarey - Wolverhampton Wanderers
Declan Walker - Wrexham
John Egan - Sunderland
Joe Shaughnessy - Aberdeen
Anthony O'Connor - Blackburn Rovers
Sean McGinty - Manchester United
Derrick Williams - Aston Villa
Carl McHugh - Reading
Daryl Horgan - Salthill Devon
Shane Byrne - Leicester City
Stephen McDonnell - Dundalk
Jeff Hendrick - Derby County
Liam Irwin - Bolton Wanderers
Craig Walsh - Shamrock Rovers
Stephen Folan - Newcastle United
Patrick McEleney - Derry City
Robbie Brady - Manchester United
Michael Rafter - Colchester United
Ryan Connolly - Derby County.

Peamount United bring the FAI Umbro Senior Cup to Dublin ...

Damien Richardson today (Friday, July 23rd) named an 18-man Airtricity League squad for the match against Manchester United at Aviva Stadium on August 4th.

Sporting Fingal 2-3 CS Maritimo (agg 4-6)

To score four goals in a European tie is encouarging for progression prospects but it wasn't enough for Sporting Fingal against CS Maritimo at Dalymount Park on Thursday evening.

Having netted two crucial away goals in last week's first leg, Sporting were hopeful of springing a surprise against their Portuguese opponents at Dalymount Park.

But it wasn't to be as a penalty on 20 minutes from Alonso acted as a hammer blow for the Ravens after Shaun Maher had brought down Danilo Dias inside the box.

A spirited second-half performance saw Glen Crowe and Conan Byrne both blast over, while Ronan Finn had a goal disallowed as Sporting continued to press forward.

But their positive play, which was hugely encouraging at times in front of a strong crowd, counted for little as Maritimo stepped up a gear.

On 67 minutes, Marquinho collected a pass just outside the home side's penalty area and he drilled a low shot past keeper Brendan Clarke.

Buckley's players trooped on and the introduction of Zayed made a difference when he slid in on 81 minutes to convert Byrne's cross.

That should have provided them with a much-needed lift, but substitute Kanu deflated their hope when he blasted in from close range.

However, the night ended on a bittersweet note when Zayed got his second goal when he volleyed in.

Sporting Fingal: Clarke; O'Brien, Maher, Browne, Fitzgerald; Finn, McFaul (Zayed 64), Williams; Byrne, Crowe, Kirby.

Substitutes Not Used: Quigley, Gannon, Frost, Cahill, Dawson, James.

CS Maritimo: Pecanha; Esteves, Guilherme, Robson, Alonso; Marquinho (Luciano 71), Sousa, Danilo Dias, Tcho (Kanu 81); Cherrad (Fidelis 90), Baba.

Substitutes Not Used: Boek, Dylan, Luis Olim, Briguel.

Referee: M Borg (Malta).