Hibs bow out of Champions League with goal-less draw against Shamrock Rovers

Hibernians bowed out of the UEFA Champions League qualifiers after being held to a goal-less at the Centenary Stadium on Tuesday night.

Their performance went some way to compensate for the 3-0 loss in Dublin last week.

A more composed and assured Hibs went after their opponents from the first whistle  till the last but could not find a way through a packed Rovers defence. Often all the Shamrock players were inside their own half as they fought to prevent Hibernians from scoring.

With newly appointed coach Andrea Pisanu, who only last weekend took over from the  departing Stefano Sanderra, Hibs searched for a goal but finishing and some desperate defending frustrated them throughout the game.

Just about all the Hibs players tried their luck, probably only keeper Kone was the only one not to have a strike.

Degabriele, Grech, Groothusen, Attard, Thaylor, Vella,  all went so close. But it was not to be.

There was a momentary scare for Hibs when Towell put the ball in the net but his effort was ruled offside. That was the nearest Shamrock came to scoring.

This match was about regaining their confidence and pride and they did both. The fact that they did not score will upset them but the change in the side in the space of just a week will give them belief as they start a new journey, this time in the UEFA Europa Conference League. On this showing they may well enjoy better success.