So, how was it for you?

Dia dhuit everyone, it’s been a busy week in Europe for Irish sides, with three of our finest competing in both continental competitions with varying degrees of success. Therefore, a quick look at how they all got on is due, and what can be expected in the next few weeks.

Firstly, Drogheda United. Again, I have to hold my hands up and say that work got in the way once again of me watching the game, so my report on the tie is gleamed from RTE, UEFA and my Dad, who did happen to watch the match. For the record, his concise take on proceedings was “It was an alright game”, UEFA were concise and diplomatic about the game, as expected. RTE were glowing in their praise for the Drogs however, after an 86th minute belter from Oleksandr Aliev was required to send the away side back to Ukraine with a lead. Of far greater journalistic worth however was the post-match report by Shane Murray, which took the merits and faults of both sides into consideration. A bit lengthy, but an excellent read nonetheless if you have a bit of spare time.

The situation sounds very similiar to what I had hoped for Tuesday night, although obviously you always want more, and part of me is disappointed that the Drogs aren’t going to Kiev with the tie still level. I’ve read one fantastically optimistic opinion this week from Eddie Griffin over at Soccerlens suggesting that a 2-0 victory is not beyond the lads at the Dynamo Lobanovsky. Sorry, but it is, as much as I don’t like to say it, simply because the experience for European away nights isn’t there, and Dynamo are too good and have been in this situation many more times than the Drogs, and chances are that they will win by a few in Kiev. Again, it is now one of those situations where Drogheda need to show some pride and come out fighting against Kiev, as was the case Tuesday night. If they manage to scare Kiev for as long as they did Tuesday night, then it will be an enormous boon and great experience for when they return to the European stage (which probably won’t be the case this season, unless they make the UEFA Cup through the domestic cup route, they play Bohemians in the last 16 in a fortnight’s time.) If they do get a good hiding, then the gloss will be taken off the whole experience for the club a bit, and most of the confidence earned from the first leg will drain away. It might be a lost cause in some respects come Wednesday, but there is plenty of work to be done for future years for Drogheda in Kiev. It will be interesting to see how it pans out…

It would be churlish to ignore the two sides taking part in the UEFA Cup, well one side taking part now, but obviously until Kiev confirm what we all expect next week, St. Pat’s Athletic will have to take a backseat. Credit must go to them however, even though JFK Olimps from Riga were hardly the most taxing side that took part in the first qualifying round. The yo-yo side from Latvia who got into Europe after getting to the final of the domestic cup were sent packing after a 3-0 aggregate win for St. Pat’s, the home side winning 2-0 last night thanks to goals from Jamie Harris and a Mark Quigley penalty. Cork City are done for another season in Europe though, they were finished off by Finnish side FC Haka, who won 4-0 on the night, 6-2 on aggregate. By all accounts, (again, didn’t see either match, but I don’t think they were even on in Ireland…) Cork lost the heart for the fight after going two down in the first 15 minutes, and after that Haka strolled home. Admittedly, I’m a little disappointed that they were unable to put up any resistance, but in truth Cork were playing away to a side with many years of European experience and two away goals to boot, so realistically there was only ever going to be one winner. 4-0 though, yeesh…

Which takes us on nicely to the draws being made in Nyon shortly for both competitions (News of the breaking variety as I write this blog, it’s Spartak Moscow in the third round for the winners.) Third round qualifying for the Champions League will probably only serve to show Drogheda what could have been had they performed miracles against Kiev, while St. Pat’s also face a tricky tie irrespective of who they are drawn against. As an unseeded side, Saints will play one of the following:

Aston Villa
FC Rennes
FC Copenhagen
Brondby
Elfsborg

….oops. Well…they could have Villa, Rennes or Copenhagen…just not sure whether Pat’s would have it in them to beat Brondby or Elfsborg. Sarcasm gets you far in this world, ladies and gents. In truth, Pat’s probably face another situation similar to Drogheda with Kiev, but I shall reserve judgment until we find just who they will play, and then we can home in the scepticism from there. In all seriousness though, provided Pat’s made a decent account of themselves, it will be another superb experience for an Irish club in Europe.

So that’s the round-up for our lot for this week at least, I’m sure there will be more to say about Drogheda and Pat’s once we know who the latter will be playing, and how the former got on in Kiev. I shall leave it at for now though. As for the national side…I’ve got plenty to write about there, but this week the spotlight belongs to our domestic sides, which explains the lack of articles on the international front…for now anyways.

Chances are I’ll get writing about summat else over the weekend, Sliante Chugat until then everyone.