Shamrock Rovers, Shelbourne and Derry City learn of potential Champions League and Europa Conference League opponents
UEFA headquarters in Nyon will host the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League first round draws on Tuesday at lunchtime, with Shamrock Rovers seeded in the premier competition.
Shamrock Rovers, Shelbourne and Derry City will all be hoping for short trips in their upcoming European first round ties - ahead of Tuesday’s draws for the Champions League and Europa Conference League.
The Hoops are seeded in the Champions League and on Monday learned of their five potential opponents.
Logistically, their best draw would be against NIFL Premiership champions Larne, while they could also land one of NK Celje (Slovenia), FK Panevezys (Lithuania), Vikingur Reykjavik (Iceland) or FC Differdange 03 (Luxembourg).
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Rovers have a mixed recent record against teams from some of those countries. They lost in the Champions League first round last year to Icelandic side Breidablik, but beat Stjarnan in the Europa League in 2017.
Their last meeting against a team from Luxembourg ended in a 3-0 aggregate Europa League win over Progres Niederkorn in 2015, while under Stephen Kenny they lost to Panevezys in 2012.
By the time the first round takes place, with the first legs on July 9/10 and the second legs a week later, they will already know their potential second round opponents, with that draw taking place on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, in the Europa Conference League, Derry City and Linfield are both seeded in the first round draw and will face one of Bala Town (Wales), Víkingur (Faroe Islands), Stjarnan (Iceland), VPS Vaasa (Finland) or FCB Magpies (Gibraltar).
Damien Duff’s European debut as manager will see his unseeded Shelbourne take on one of Breidablik (Iceland), F91 Diddeleng (Luxembourg), SP Tre Penne (San Marino), St Joseph's FC (Gibraltar) or NIFL side Crusaders.
Stephen Kenny's St Patrick's Athletic side have received a bye to the second round.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CALENDAR
June 18: First qualifying round draw
June 19: Second qualifying round draw
July 9/10: First qualifying round first legs
July 16/17: First qualifying round second legs
July 22: Third qualifying round draw
July 23/24: Second qualifying round first legs
July 30/31: Second qualifying round second legs
August 5: Play-off round draw
August 6/7: Third qualifying round first legs
August 13: Third qualifying round second legs
August 20/21: Play-off round first legs
August 27/28: Play-off round second legs
August 29: League phase draw
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