Continental shift can help fire Stephen Kenny's Pat's project

We have experienced a mixed bag of results in our clubs' European campaigns as the summer progresses.

From Shamrock Rovers' determined performances to Derry City's early exit, each club's experience offering different stories and fortunes.

The champions set the tone for Irish clubs in Europe this month with a commendable display of professionalism.

The Hoops' victory over Vikingur Reykjavik in the Champions League qualifiers showcased tactical discipline and resilience and an ability to perform under pressure over the two legs.

Despite riding their luck at times - most notably with the penalty miss by Vikingur in the dying moments of the home tie - their overall performance deserved the victory.

Luck plays an important role in any European campaign, and Shamrock Rovers capitalised on it effectively.

Across the two legs they were happy to concede possession at times and defended their box extremely well and they backed up their defensive qualities by using Johnny Kenny’s pace (above) to get in behind and cause problems.

Their subsequent 2-0 loss at home to Sparta Prague on Tuesday might seem disappointing.

However, the game provided numerous positives. Rovers created several clear-cut chances, demonstrating their potential to cause problems at this level.

The match also set a new European attendance record at Tallaght Stadium, highlighting the urgent need for more high-standard stadiums like Tallaght across the country.

While overcoming Sparta Prague in the return leg seems a tall order, Shamrock Rovers can take confidence from their performance and look forward to more promising fixtures in the following qualifying rounds.

Alas, Derry City's campaign fell at the first hurdle, which has been a point of contention amongst fans and