Luck of the Draw for Irish Clubs in Euro Qualifying Rounds

Irish clubs got a broadly favourable rub of luck in the UEFA European Club Competition Draws that took place yesterday.

Shamrock Rovers represent the Republic of Ireland in the Champions’s League where they will play one of the champions of San Marino, Montenegro, Andorra or Iceland in the first Qualifying Round at home on July 12th and away seven days later.

If they win that they are then three two-legged rounds away from the holy grail of a place in the Champions’ League Group Stage, and guaranteed at worst one more round on the Champions League path and at least one in the Europa League Qualifying, should they fall in the higher tournament.

Northern Ireland Champions Larne will play HJK Helsinki, with the first leg away from home.

In the UEFA Europa Conference League First Round Qualifying Round Dundalk have been drawn against FCB Magpies of Gibraltar, with the first leg taking place at Oriel Park.

Derry City will meet HB Torshavn of the Faroe Islands with the first leg away from home and St Patrick’s Athletic and will also be on the road to meet F91 Diddeleng of Luxembourg in the first leg.

The teams from Northern Ireland have each been drawn in the same group as a Southern team.  Linfield face Albanian opposition in the same group as Dundalk. 

Crusaders face Finnish opponents in the same group as Derry City and Glentoran will play against Maletes opponents in the same group as St Patrick’s Athletic.