The draws for the first and second qualifying rounds of both the Europa Champions League and the new Europa Conference League took place at UEFA Headquarters in Nyon on Tuesday and Wednesday.
In the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, Airtricity League Champions Shamrock Rovers have been drawn against SK Slovan Bratislava of Slovakia with the first leg away on the 6th July and the second leg in Tallaght Stadium on Tuesday the 13th July. Northern Ireland champions Linfield travel to FK Zalgiris Vilnius of Lithuania in the first leg while Welsh Champions Connah’s Quay Nomads will play their first leg at home against Alashkert of Armenia.
Should the Irish and Welsh sides progress to the second qualifying round they will face Young Boys Berne of Switzerland (Shamrock Rovers), Ferencvaros of Hungary/ Preliminary Round Qualifier (Linfield) and Teuta of Albania/Sheriff Tiraspol from Macedonia (Connah’s Quay Nomads).
In the UEFA Conference League both Bohemian and Sligo Rovers have been drawn against Icelandic opposition in St Jarnan and FH Hafnarfjordur with the first legs away on Thursday the 8th July and the second legs at home on Thursday the 15th July. Dundalk have been drawn against Welsh side Newtown AFC and will play the first leg at home before travelling to Wales for the second leg. Northern Irish side Coleraine travel to face FK Velez of Bosnia & Herzegovina in their first leg while the other Northern Ireland representatives Glentoran and Larne FC face Welsh opposition in The New Saints and Bala Town respectively.
Should the three Airtricity League sides progress to the second round they will face Levadia Tallinn of Estonia/St Joseph’s of Gibraltar (Dundalk), Dudelange FC from Luxembourg (Bohemian) and Rosenborg of Norway (Sligo Rovers).