Shels, Longford seeded for Euro draws

Shelbourne and Longford Town have been seeded in their respective UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup draws, which take place in UEFA headquarters, Nyon this Friday.

However, Cork City will be unseeded in the UEFA Cup draw.

With a co-efficient of 2.375, Shelbourne are the eighth-ranked seed (of 12 seeded teams) in the draw for the first qualifying round of the Champions League.

Liverpool are the top seeds in that draw, while Shelbourne could meet fellow Glentoran or Total Network Solutions (TNS) of Wales, both of whom are among the 12 unseeded teams in the other side of the draw.

As the draw for the second qualifying round has also been made, Shelbourne will know who they will face should they progress past the first qualifying round once the first-round draw is made in three days’ time in Switzerland.

In the UEFA Cup Northern Group, Longford Town are the 11th of 11 seeded teams with a co-efficient of 1.375.

Cork City are the top-ranked unseeded team (12th position) in the other side of the draw. They have an identical co-efficient to Longford Town but UEFA have given priority to Longford Town as winners of the FAI Cup.

Therefore, Cork City are unseeded for the draw. Country protection will be in place so the two eircom League sides cannot meet each other.

However, Longford Town could face Linfield, Glentoran, Rhyl or Camarthen Town (the last two both Wales).