An everyday presence in continental competitors within the years after, Rovers received a primary European tie on the seventh time of asking within the 1966-67 Cup Winners’ Cup after they beat Spora Luxembourg 4-1 each residence and away to arrange a conflict with giants Bayern Munich and their vaunted trio of Gerd Muller, Sepp Maier and Franz Beckenbauer.
With Liam Tuohy, who had been within the workforce towards Manchester United 9 years earlier, appearing as player-manager, Rovers drew 1-1 in Dublin earlier than coming from two behind in Munich to stage the sport at 2-2 and late within the second half stood to undergo on away targets.
An 86th-minute purpose from Muller, nevertheless, denied them what would have been a historic triumph whereas the German aspect finally went on to win the competitors.
Ties towards Celtic and Juventus, in addition to a pleasant towards Actual Madrid that featured Cristiano’s Ronaldo first time within the white jersey, offered extra memorable moments down the years.
Extra lately, reward for changing into the primary Irish aspect to make the Europa League group levels in 2011-12 was a pairing with Chelsea’s London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Goalkeeper Richard Brush had been out of soccer after struggling a wrist harm with earlier membership Sligo Rovers when he obtained the decision to hitch the Hoops’ European cost that season.
“I used to be going from being with out a membership to being thrown into Shamrock Rovers within the title race and at that stage within the Champions League qualifiers. I went from not having a membership straight into the center of this huge juggernaut of a run,” he stated.
“It was going into the unknown after a protracted harm after which being thrown into what was the most important achievement in Irish soccer on the time.
“I bear in mind the texts going spherical, kind of like, ‘are you taking the mick, we have got Spurs?’ It was big for us.”
Enjoying their first aggressive recreation towards English opposition since that journey to Previous Trafford 54 years prior, Brush was in impressed kind to disclaim Jermain Defoe and Roman Pavlyuchenko earlier than Stephen Rice put the guests right into a shock lead.
Spurs, although, turned the sport with three targets in six second-half minutes.
The return fixture in Dublin was a extra simple affair for the star-studded Premiership aspect who received 4-0 however offered Brush, who was as soon as Joe Hart’s back-up at Shrewsbury City, with an uncommon declare to fame when he conceded the primary of Harry Kane’s report 280 targets for Spurs.
“His first purpose, for him that’s clearly an enormous factor,” stated Brush.
“As foolish because it sounds it is a reminiscence for me too. For that to be his first purpose after which gone on to have the profession that he is had, it is good to be remembered in some bizarre manner.”