BEFORE St Patrick’s Athletic even take to the field against Shakhtar Karagandy today (2pm Irish time), they will have felt like they’ve endured an entire Europa League campaign – let alone a mere qualifier.

SHAMROCK ROVERS will face Estonian champions FC Flora in the UEFA Champions League second round qualifiers, the draw for which was made at UEFA headquarters in Nyon yesterday.

BOHEMIANS have been drawn against Welsh side TNS (now The New Saints, formerly Total Network Solutions) in the Champions League second round qualifying round.

BARELY a month has elapsed since Barcelona beat Manchester United in the final of the Champions League in Rome and, already, the new season in Europe is upon us.