Shamrock Rovers learn Champions League path, Shels could face Linfield again

Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley   Photo by Paul Phelan/Sportsfile

Shamrock Rovers will play FC Ararat-Armenia or Riga FC in the second round of Champions League qualifying should they overcome Maltese side Floriana in Round 1.

Latvians Riga were defeated by Dundalk on penalties in 2019 and were beaten by Celtic in 2020. They did beat Derry 4-0 on aggregate in the 2022 Conference League. They bowed out to Sparta Prague in the Conference League last year.

The Armenians were also beaten by Sparta last year, in the third round of the Conference League. Only founded in 2017, they have won their own league three times, losing first time out in the Champions League on both previous occasions. 

Winners of a second round Champions League tie will guarantee a place in the Conference League outright. 

In the Europa League, Derry City will face the winners of Qarabag and Vestri in the second qualifying round should they overcome CSKA Sofia in Round 1.

Meanwhile, Shelbourne could be reunited with Linfield in the Conference League, having beat the northern side in Champions League and Conference League qualification last season.

Shels skip Round due to their coefficient but will face the winners of Linfield and Estonian side Nomme Kalju in Round 2.

Bohemians will play Welsh side Connah's Quay Nomads or Ballkani of Kosovo in the second round if they beat St Joseph's of Gibraltar in Round 1.