Irish sides await European draw today

Shelbourne will have one ear cocked in the direction of Switzerland this morning as they await the draw for the first two qualifying rounds of the Champions League.

Defending league champions Shels, who visit Dublin rivals St Patrick’s Athletic tonight at Richmond Park (7.45pm) go into the first qualifying round draw.

There are 20 teams are in the hat tomorrow, 10 of them seeded, while Shels and Irish League champions Linfield and League of Wales champions Rhyl FC are all unseeded.

Possible opponents for Shels include Latvian side Skonto Riga FC, and some famous names lie in wait in the second qualifying round, with Ferencvaros of Hungary, Sparta Prague, Rosenborg and former European Cup winners Red Star Belgrade among them.

Also anxiously awaiting the unfolding of events at UEFA headquarters in Nyon are the eircom League’s UEFA Cup qualifiers Bohemians and Longford Town.

They, along with Portadown, are among 50 clubs entered into the first qualifying round of the UEFA Cup.