Celtic bound Liam Scales bid farewell to Shamrock Rovers fans as the club's bid to make the European Conference League group stages ended in failure last night.
The Hoops' mission was to claw back a two-goal deficit against Flora Tallinn in Tallaght but instead they lost 1-0, with Rauno Sappinen's soft 58th minute goal the result of fatal errors by the hosts.
It ended Rovers' hopes of a €3m Euro jackpot and with it a place in the group stage draw today, but the Premier Division pace-setters and defending champions will leave the European stage approximately €1m richer.
After the final whistle, 23-year-old Scales gave his jersey to a young fan and spent time applauding the Hoops faithful.
Rovers boss Stephen Bradley wouldn't say if the defender was leaving the club before Sunday's FAI Cup clash with Bohemians, but Celtic have confirmed the move this morning.
“We’ll have to wait and see, I’d imagine it’s his last European game," said Bradley. "We’ll have to wait and see over the next few days.
“It’s disappointing we’re obviously out. We gave ourselves a really difficult task on the back of last week. It’s done, we learn from it and we move on.
"You always look back and think 'could we have changed that', but we'll look at it, see where we can be better and refocus.
"We're in a very strong position domestically and this team has been very good for a long time, last week we let ourselves down but tonight I thought we were good."
Rovers were still in the tie with just over half an hour remaining but then Danny Mandroiu gave away possession and Alan Mannus somehow allowed Sappinen's shot to beat him.
“Yeah, sloppy," acknowledged Bradley.
"You have to limit them to very very little in this game and we did that, the goal, maybe Alan should save it.
"Look, I thought the players showed tremendous character to show up and play like we did.
"For 35 minutes in the first half, we were very very good, the keeper makes some saves. Start of the second half, it was a bit scrappy for both teams and they scored and that sort of killed it for us.
"We had possession and ball down the side and there is no real danger and nine times out of ten, Alan saves it. That sums up the two legs for us.
"But you have to give them credit, they were ruthless. When they got their chances, they took them.
"It’s very unlike us. Tonight was more like us but the damage was done."
For the derby clash with Bohs, Rovers could be without Mandroiu, who suffered a hip injury, and Sean Hoare, who came off in the 31st minute with a groin injury.
Bradley added that the Premier League leaders are looking at transfer options at present.
"Only if it's right," he said. "We've been looking for the last few weeks and will continue to look, obviously our window is closed and we can only bring in out of contract players, and they are waiting for England and Scotland.
"So we have to be patient."
