Shamrock Rovers to meet Malta's Floriana in Champions League first round qualifier

The League of Ireland Premier Division winners will make the trip to Malta for the first leg with official dates, kick-off times and venues to be confirmed in due course.

EURO DREAM: Shamrock Rovers have been drawn against Malta side Floriana in the Champions League first qualifying round. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Shamrock Rovers have been drawn against Malta side Floriana in the Champions League first qualifying round.

The League of Ireland Premier Division and FAI Cup winners will make the trip to Malta for the first leg with official dates, kick-off times and venues to be confirmed in due course, although the club have already annoucned they intend to put on a charter flight for supporters to travel with the official party to the away tie.

The draw took place on Tuesday afternoon, just less than 24 hours after Rovers defender Pico Lopes helped Cape Verde keep a clean sheet in their scoreless draw with Spain in their World Cup opener.

Lopes will be back in action for the Hoops by the time their European quest begins and the Tallaght club know that victory in their opening round against their Maltese opponents will secure their route on the Champions Path.

Rovers’ place on the Champions Path would mean that should they lose in the second round, they will drop into the Europa League and should they also be beaten in that competition, they would fall into the Conference League.

Whereas should they lose to Floriana, they would instead drop directly into the Conference League.

Meanwhile Derry City will take on CSKA Sofia of Bulgaria in the Europa League first qualifying round.

The Candystripes will be away from home in the first leg on July 9 before they welcome their opponents to the Brandywell on July 16.

The two clubs have previously met in the third qualifying round back in 2009 with the Bulgarians going through 2-1 aggregate.