Euro draws eagerly awaited

Celtic, Bohemians, Derry and Shelbourne are all eagerly awaiting today's Champions League and UEFA Cup draws in Switzerland today.

All eyes will be on who Celtic are paired with when the draw for the qualifying rounds of the Champions League takes place at around midday in Switzerland.

The Glasgow giants are the only previous European Cup winners featured in today’s draw and Martin O’Neill’s side will be looking to build on their exploits in last season’s UEFA Cup.

They are seeded at the second stage in Europe’s top club competition and could be drawn to meet Djurgardens (Sweden), Rapid Bucharest (Romania), NK Maribor (Slovenia), MSK Zilina (Slovakia) or one of 10 first qualifying round winners at UEFA headquarters in Nyon.

Eircom League champions Bohemians come in as seeds at the opening phase, while Glentoran (Northern Ireland) and Barry Town (Wales) are in the draw but are not seeded.

Manchester City will rekindle memories of their 1970 European Cup Winners’ Cup success when they enter the draw for the UEFA Cup.

As they won a place through the Fair Play League, Manchester City come in at the first qualifying round stage.

Under former England coach Kevin Keegan they are returning to the European scene after a 24-year absence.

As seeds they should stroll through to the next stage.

City could face Total Network Solutions of Wales. Other potential opponents are TVMK Tallinn (Estonia), Etzella Ettelbruck (Luxembourg) or KI Klaksvik (Faroe Islands).

FAI Cup champions Derry City, and eircom League runners-up Shelbourne are also in the draw, along with Coleraine and Portadown.