Gerry Davis' side finished top of their group with seven points and without conceding a goal in three games after a solid display against the Slovenians, who had Andrej Prelog sent-off for a second bookable offence with 11 minutes to go.

Jimmy Carr had a chance to open the scoring in the seventh minute but Maribor keeper Rene Glušič made a save. David Hoban and Stevven Bradley had further chances as the half wore on.

Irish keeper Mark Power made a save to deny Davor Rogina in the 32nd minute before Bradley was denied again five minutes before the break then Matevž Verhovnik had a free-kick dealt with by Power in first-half injury-time.

Glušič  made a 66th minute stop from Mark Horgan after the defender connected with a Carr corner-kick before Power was tested by Verhovnik once more in the 73rd minute.

"It was a tough game. We made a number of changes and started those who didn't play the other games. They all did really well and it was good to see them play in a European tie," said Davis.

"On another day David Hoban might have got a hat-trick but the Slovenians were dangerous on the break so they were a decent opponent.

"Last Saturday when we met at Dublin Airport you'd have said what we’ve done would have been an unbelievable achievement. The players have been magnificent and bought into the culture. It's a real test for amateur players to play tough games like this in such a short space of time.

"Now we'll go home, reflect on the week and look forward to the finals next summer. We'll plan our preparations for that in the months ahead."

MUNSTER CONNACHT: Mark Power, Christopher Higgins, Kenneth Hoey, Mark Horgan, James Carr,  Andrew Gannon, Eugene O'Donovan (Shane Daly-Butz 60), Brian Murphy (David Joyce 71), Stevven Bradley (Daniel O'Neill 84), Conor Griffin, David Hoban.

MARIBOR: Rene Glušič, David Ladič, Davor Rogina (Dejan Hager 87), Miha Čuček, Mitja Petrej, Matevž Verhovnik, Timotej Javornik (Mitja Kramljak 68), Matevž Repa (Andrej Paradiž 61),Aljaž Babšek,Uroš Ruis, Andrej Prelog.

RESULTS & FIXTURES

UEFA Regions Cup Intermediary Round Group 7

September 28, 2016

MNZ Maribor 0-0  North-East Macedonia, CS Comunale Ferruccio, Seregno (ITA)

Lombardia Regional FA 0-1 Munster Connacht, Stadio Comunale, Gorgonzola (ITA)

September 30, 2016

Lombardia Regional FA 4-1 MNZ Maribor, Stadio Ernesto Breda, San Giovanni (ITA)

North-East Macedonia 0-2 Munster Connacht, Centro Sportivo Comunale, Inveruno (ITA)

October 2, 2016

North-East Macedonia 0-1 Lombardia Regional FA, Stadio Chinetti, Solbiate Arno (ITA)

Munster Connacht 0-0 MNZ Maribor, Stadio Comunale 1, Carvaggio (ITA)