League of Ireland clubs learn of potential opponents for potential Europa Conference League play-off

UEFA Europa Conference League trophy

UEFA Europa Conference League Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)

The draw was made on Monday lunchtime for the Europa Conference League play-off round in UEFA HQ in Nyon.

The three League of Ireland club’s in the competition learned who they will play should they progress through the third qualifying round.

Shamrock Rovers

On Thursday Shamrock Rovers play Albanian side Teatu in the first leg of the third round in Tallaght Stadium. Should they win that tie against the champions of Albania they will face either Omonoia (Cyprus) or Flora Tallinn (Estonia) in the play-off round.

Those two team are playing in the champions side of the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round and the loser of that tie will drop into the Conference League play-off as the seeded team to play either Rovers or Teuta.

The Hoops entered the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League following their elimination in the Champions League qualifiers last month at the hands of Slovan Bratislava 3-2 on aggregate. Rovers got a bye in the second round before being drawn against Teatu.

Dundalk

Dundalk play Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem this week in the third round. Should the FAI Cup holders beat Vitesse, they now know they will play either KF Laçi from Albania or Belgian side Anderlecht in the play-off round. Those two teams are playing in the Conference League third round and so it is the winner of that tie who will face either Dundalk or Vitesse.

The 2020 Europa League group stage qualifiers breezed by Welsh side Newtown 5-0 on aggregate in the Conference League first round and a late David McMillan goal saw them get by Levadia Tallinn in the last round 4-3 on aggregate.

Bohemians



Should they progress passed PAOK, Bohemians will face the winner of the Conference League third round tie between Scottish side Hibernian and HNK Rijeka from Croatia.

PAOK will play Bohs in the third round first leg in the Aviva Stadium this coming Tuesday. Bohs have performed excellently in Europe this season eliminating Icelandic side Stjarnan 4-1 on aggregate in the first round and Dudelange of Luxembourg 4-0 on aggregate in the last round.

All the play-off round matches are provisionally scheduled for 19 and 26 August with the winners progressing to September’s group stages of the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League.

    About Macdara Ferris

    Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl … View Full Profile