Troy Parrott example points way to 'better route' for Irish via continental pathway - Keith Treacy

Like buses, you wait 13 years for a Republic of Ireland international to score in the UEFA Champions League proper and then two come at once.

Not since Darron Gibson had found the net for Manchester United in the semi-final second leg against Schalke 04 in May 2011 had an Irish player scored in the group stages or beyond in Europe's elite club competition.

But Liam Scales first and then Adam Idah put paid to a 13-year drought as they scored for Scottish champions Celtic in a 5-1 demolition of Slovan Bratislava live on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player last Wednesday.

While the number of Irish players in the competition each season is not necessarily the primary gauge as to the health of the game at home, sightings of Boys in Green in the Champions League have been relatively meagre in recent years compared to other European peers.

We need your consent to load this comcast-player content We use comcast-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content. Manage Preferences

Aside from Idah, Scales and Liverpool's Caoimhin Kelleher - the latter two of whom have played in the competition proper previous to this season - Irish supporters will be keeping a close eye on Shamrock Rovers' exploits in the third-tier Conference League when its league phase gets underway next week.

But this week is all about the Europa League and Ireland striker Troy Parrott will be hoping to carry his encouraging start from the Dutch Eredivisie into the continental scene when AZ Alkmaar take on Swedish outfit IF Elfsborg on Wednesday.

Parrott, who enjoyed a productive loan at Excelsior Rotterdam last season, elected to continue his career in the