Stephen Bradley hails brilliant night for League of Ireland after landmark win

Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley hailed a "brilliant night" for the League of Ireland after his side secured group stage European football for 2024 with a landmark extra-time victory over Slovenian champions NK Celje in Tallaght Stadium.

Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Rovers had turned the course of the tie by half-time, Dylan Watts slotting home a penalty after VAR spotted a clumsy foul on Aaron Greene before the rampant Neil Farrugia doubled the lead on the night with a rasping shot from distance four minutes later.

While Zan Karnicnik's 83rd minute cushioned volley levelled the tie and sent the game to extra-time, substitute Graham Burke would land the decisive blow, the inexperienced Celje keeper Lovro Stubljar allowing the Dubliner's shot slither under his body as Rovers re-took the lead. This time, they wouldn't relinquish it.

The result capped a memorable day from the League of Ireland in Europe, Stephen Kenny's St Patrick's Athletic earlier winning away in Azerbaijan to put themselves within one more round of the Conference League group stage, with Turkish outfit Istanbul Basakehir standing in the way.

"It's a brilliant night," Bradley told RTÉ Sport's Tony O'Donoghue after his side's win.

"Myself and Stephen were texting earlier. Wishing each other luck obviously and saying how good it would be if both of us could get through to the groups.

"We've done it and I hope Pat's can follow us. It can only be a good thing for the league as a whole."

On the night, it was Farrugia, deployed in a more central role these days, who caused the most grief for the visitors, with Bradley arguing afterwards that Celje paid the price for their dispectfully cavalier approach to the game.

"(Farrugia was) incredible. You're just