Tallaght switch for Bohs confirmed as Shels prepare for Ajax showdown

WELCOME BOHS: Bohemians will temporarily inhabit the home of their rivals in Tallaght next Thursday when they welcome Danish side Midtjylland for the Conference League third round. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile.

Bohemians will temporarily inhabit the home of their rivals in Tallaght next Thursday when they welcome Danish side Midtjylland for the Conference League third round (7.45pm).

Alan Reynolds’ side emerged through a testing trip to Kosovo on Thursday, coming from behind against Ballkani to force extra-time and a penalty shoot-out they prevailed in 5-4.

Their reward was a tie against either Besiktas or Midtjylland and it transpires to be the latter after they slipped out of the Europa League.

As Dalymount Park doesn’t meet Uefa’s venue requirements to host a tie at this stage, the Gypsies must relocate and have chosen the home ground of Shamrock Rovers.

Dalymount is to be rebuilt over a two-year timeframe once this season ends in October.

Midtjylland was controlled by Brentford owner Matthew Benham up until 2023, a period in which they won three league titles and regularly progressed deep into European competition.

They shared a Champions League group with Liverpool, Ajax and Atlanta in 2021. Danish billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen has since taken majority ownership.

Meanwhile, Shelbourne fans have begun making travel plans for their glamour tie against Ajax on the same night. Amsterdam’s Johan Cruyff Arena will stage the first leg (7pm), with the return confirmed for Thursday, August 13 at Tolka Park. Ticket demand for the reduced capacity of 4,000 will be intense.

Tallaght will also host Europa League football on Tuesday, when Rovers meet KF Egnatia in the Europa League third round. Both teams were knocked out of the Champions League this week and the loser will still have another chance of group phase involvement in the Conference League playoff.