Keith Treacy: Better end product sends Neil Farrugia to next level

Shamrock Rovers need a monumental comeback to go any further in the Champions League qualifying rounds this evening, but the performance of Neil Farrugia in their 2-0 loss to Sparta Prague last week offered more evidence of his quality, according to Keith Treacy.

The 25-year-old offered glimpses of his undoubted quality in Tallaght, occasionally leaving Sparta defenders dizzy as he showcased his ability to weave past players.

However Farrugia also missed a big chance when the scores were level, and Treacy says he needs to improve his final product to progress to the next level.

"Damien Duff this week has been talking about levels in the game," Treacy said on the RTÉ Soccer Podcast.

"I think Farrugia, I love him to bits, but if he wants to go that next level - and his next level is huge, there's a really good player in there - he needs the end product.

"So many times against Sparta Prague he burst out of midifeld and you're thinking, 'okay make the right decision', and he'd make the wrong one or couldn't hit the target. But he is a player that gets you on the edge of your seat.

"If he brings that end product to his game he goes to the next level, and his next level could be across the water. He's a fantastic player, but Sparta Prague are a classy outfit. I don't think you're going to get too many people sticking the boot into Shamrock Rovers because they are a very good outfit."

The Hoops will face Steaua Bucharest or Maccabi Tel Aviv if they manage to pull off what would be a remarkable recovery in the return leg this evening, but they look much more likely to drop into a Europa League third-round qualifier against the loser of Slovenia side NK Celje or Slovan Bratislava from Slovakia.

The winner of the Europa League tie would