The Daily Star Ireland
Shelbourne FC will begin their UEFA Champions League qualification campaign with a high-profile fixture against Linfield, following Monday afternoon’s draw in Nyon. The two-legged encounter will see the reigning champions of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland face off in early July in a meeting that renews all-island competitive rivalry on the European stage.
Shelbourne were drawn as an unseeded side, with Linfield seen as one of the more favorable outcomes among potential opponents. The first leg is scheduled to take place at Tolka Park on July 8 or 9, with the return leg a week later in Belfast. Progression from this round is particularly valuable, as teams that are eliminated in the first qualifying round of the Champions League receive a secondary opportunity in UEFA’s Europa League or Europa Conference League qualifying brackets.
Advancing beyond the first hurdle could bring further European revenue opportunities. Shelbourne are already assured of a financial boost exceeding €1 million in participation earnings, with substantially larger rewards available should they reach the group stage of any of the UEFA club competitions.
Last season, a similar all-Ireland matchup unfolded when Shamrock Rovers overcame Larne 4-1 in a UEFA Conference League clash, demonstrating the competitive edge of domestic champions in cross-border ties.
St Patrick’s Athletic to Meet Lithuanian Runners-Up as Rovers Receive Direct Entry
In UEFA Conference League qualifying, St Patrick’s Athletic have been paired with FC Hegelmann of Lithuania. Hegelmann, based in Kaunas, secured a second-place finish in the A Lyga last season and have quickly risen in domestic prominence after only joining Lithuania’s top division four years ago. Their European experience is limited, having lost their sole continental tie 5-0 against FC Shkupi of North Macedonia in 2023.
The Dublin club will host the opening leg of the tie on July 10 before travelling to Lithuania for the return fixture on July 17. Under the leadership of Stephen Kenny, St Pat’s will aim to capitalize on their continental experience and home advantage in the first leg.
In a related development, Shamrock Rovers have secured automatic entry to the second round of Conference League qualifying. This follows a UEFA ruling excluding Drogheda United due to a breach of multi-club ownership regulations. Drogheda had contested the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport but were unsuccessful in their appeal, allowing Rovers to take their place in the next round.
Albanian side FC Dinamo City have also benefited from this ruling and will now enter directly at the second-round stage. Qualification to this phase secures participating clubs over €500,000 in UEFA prize money, underlining the financial significance of each progression.
The second-round draw for both the Champions League and Conference League qualifying stages will be conducted on Wednesday, setting the stage for the next steps in the European journeys of Ireland’s top clubs.
