'I'd love to see it' - Stephen Bradley hopes Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne seal Conference League progress

Avoiding defeat against Santa Clara will put Bradley’s side through to the League Phase of UEFA’s third tier competition for the second successive year.

Shamrock Rovers head coach Stephen Bradley is hoping for a big night for the League of Ireland. Pic: ©INPHO/Tom O’Hanlon

Fourteen years to the week of their breakthrough in Belgrade when becoming the first League of Ireland side to reach the group stage of a European club competition, Shamrock Rovers stand on the brink of another continental milestone for themselves and the domestic game.

Following last week’s controlled, tactically astute performance in coming from behind to win the first leg in the Azores, avoiding defeat against their Portuguese opponents tonight at what should be a bouncing Tallaght Stadium will put Stephen Bradley’s side through to the League Phase of UEFA’s third tier competition for the second successive year, and a third group/league qualification in four seasons.