Rovers 0
FC Copenhagen 2 - N'Doye 41' Bolanos 73'
(aggregate 0-3)           

Hoops Line out
16 Ryan Thompson
2 Pat Sullivan
3 Enda Stevens
4 Craig Sives
5 Dan Murray (c)
7 Gary McCabe
21 Ronan Finn
22 Conor McCormack
20 Billy Dennehy
18 Chris Turner   
9 Gary Twigg

Substitutes
14 Dean Kelly for McCabe 65'
11 Ciaran Kilduff
for Twigg 74'
6 Stephen Rice
for Finn 74'
19 Gary O'Neill
1 Richard Brush
13 Pat Flynn
15 Paddy Kavanagh

The Hoops were left to wonder what the outcome would have been if Chris Turner's first half-header had gone in instead of hitting the underside of the crossbar but the Danish visitors took advantage to score twice and progress to the play-offs.

In front of a noisy sell-out home crowd the Hoops took a little time to settle and after only 3 minutes a Bolanos cross deflected off Dan Murray but fortunately the ball went through to 'keeper Thompson.

After 6 minutes a Billy Dennehy cross was headed goalwards but 'keeper Wiland claimed the ball under his crossbar. The visitors played high up the pitch and forced Rovers to employ some long balls forward but Pat Sullivan did get inside the Copenhagen 'half on 11 minutes but his low driven cross was just too far ahead of Dennehy.

Dame N'Doye was causing problems for Rovers and Sives made a fine interception to deny him a run on goal. After 18 minutes the Hoops won possession in midfield and Turner fed Stevens on the left and he sent in a fine cross that Turner met to send his header crashing off the underside of the crossbar and his follow-up header went over the bar.

Two minutes later another Stevens cross was destined for the head of Twigg but some brilliant defending by Jorgensen denied the Hoops number nine.

The visitors came more into the game and Thompson needed two attempts to gather Kristensen's deep cross. Sigurdsson then shot over the bar on 27 minutes from a Bolanos cross and a minute later a quickly taken free-kick saw N'Doye turn and force Thompson into a fine save from 25 yards out.

On 32 minutes a long throw-in by Enda Stevens was headed on by Turner but although Gary Twigg got a touch on the ball it went over the bar.

With ten minutes remaining in the half De Souza volleyed just over the bar following defensive headers from Sives and Murray. Billy Dennehy forced a corner on 37 minutes but frustratingly Bolanos headed Gary McCabes kick to safety at the near post.

Conor McCormack was harshly adjudged to have committed a foul in midfield on 41 minutes and Copenhagen won a corner after N'Doye's shot was blocked by Sives. Bolanos took the kick and Sullivan got a touch but the ball fell to N'Doye at the back post and with no Rovers there he slotted the ball into the net from a tight angle.

It was a devastating blow for Rovers but they mustered a late attack on Wiland's goal but Stevens cross just wouldn't fall for McCabe in the box after Sullivans initial cross caused problems.

Rovers started the second half on the front foot and Ronan Finn's great run on 48 minutes saw him set up Chris Turner just outside the area but his first time shot was straight at Wiland. Twigg and Finn combined three minutes later but Finn's cross was blocked.

On 56 minutes a Gary McCabe free-kick was met by the head of Twigg but the ball just missed the target. A minute later a fine through ball from Stevens saw Turner race into the area and he drove the ball across goal but no Rovers player could take advantage and Dennehy failed to connect as the ball was returned across goal.

Just before the hour a corner from the visitors saw Thompson scrambling across goal to clear the danger. Bolanos then turned well but Thompson was alert to save his shot.

On 69 minutes a Dennehy corner fizzed across the Copenhagen six-yard line but Dan Murray couldn't make the vital connection.

The Hoops went two down on the night when Kristensen crossed from the right and N'Doye's header brought a great save from Thompson but Bolanos was first to the breaking ball and he headed the ball home.

Rovers never gave up and kept pressing for a goal but left gaps at the back and substitute Santin almost made it three when played intothe box on the left but Thompson made a fine stop.

Deep into injury time Pat Sullivan injured himself in th process of defending a late counter-attack and had to be stretbhered off the pitch.

The final whistle saw Copenhagen progress but Rovers can take a lot of positives from a plucky performance over the two legs and still have the consolation of a Europa League play-off place.

   Chris Turners first half header goes so close....picture by Bobby Best