Bohs set to face Welsh champs TNS in qualifier

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

The draw, which took place in UEFA’s Swiss headquarters yesterday, pits Pat Fenlon’s team against the full-time professional Welsh champions but also offers the Gypsies a realistic chance of progressing to the third qualifying round. Bohs have confirmed that the games will be played in Dalymount Park on Tuesday, 13th July, and away on Tuesday, 20th July.

Manager Pat Fenlon described the draw as positive from a travel point of view, and looked forward to a good turn-out from the Bohemian fans.

“It’s important that we have the first round at home,” he said, “but it will not be an easy tie. They are a decent side. We’ll watch them in their friendly against Glentoran. We’ll have our homework done on them by the time we meet.”

In the Europa League – the final of which will be played at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium – Dundalk have been drawn against Luxembourg outfit Grevenmacher in the first qualifying round while Shamrock Rovers and Sporting Fingal will both enter the competition at the second qualifying round stage.

Rovers will play the winner of the first round tie between FC Ulysses of Armenia and Israel’s Bnei Yehuda, while, in the club’s first ever European venture, Fingal will take on CS Marítimo of Portugal.

Meanwhile, in other domestic news, Limerick FC have announced the signing of Stephen O’Flynn, Dave Rogers and Tim Kiely.

That could mean a surprisingly quick return to Turner’s Cross this coming Friday – when Cork City host the Shannonsiders – for the veteran Rogers whose recent departure from Cork was explained at the time as being in response to job and family commitments in Dublin. Kiely is another former Cork player while O’ Flynn returns to Limerick after a spell in England with Northampton Town.

2010/11 UEFA Champions League first qualifying round draw, Ties to be played June 29/30, July 6/7:

SP Tre Fiori (SMR) v FK Rudar Pljevlja (MNE)

FC Santa Coloma (AND) v Birkirkara FC (MLT)

UEFA Champions League second qualifying round draw, ties to be played July 13/14 and July 20/21:

SK Liepajas Metalurgs (LVA) v AC Sparta Praha (CZE); FK Aktobe (KAZ) v FC Olimpi Rustavi (GEO); Levadia Tallinn (EST) v Debrecen (HUN);

Partizan Belgrade (SRB) v FC Pyunik (ARM); Inter Baki (AZE) v Lech Poznan (POL); Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) v FC Koper (SVN); Litex Lovech (BUL) v Tre Fiori (SMR)/Rudar Pljevlja (MNE); Santa Coloma (AND) or Birkirkara (MLT) v MSK Žilina (SVK); FC Sheriff (MDA) v Dinamo Tirana (ALB); Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC (ISR) v FK Eljeznicar (BIH); Omonia Nicosia (CYP) v Renova (MKD); FC Salzburg (AUT) v HB Torshavn (FRO); Bohemians (IRL) v The New Saints FC (WAL); BATE Borisov (BLR) v Hafnarfjördur (ISL); AIK Solna (SWE) v Jeunesse Esch (LUX); Linfield FC (NIR) v Rosenborg (NOR); Ekranas (LTU) v HJK Helsinki (FIN) .