Champions League Wrap: Shamrock Rovers potential opponents reduced to two clubs

In the Champions League First Qualifying Round Shamrock Rovers will face the winner of this week's Preliminary Round tournament in Iceland

In the Champions League First Qualifying Round Shamrock Rovers will face the winner of this week's Preliminary Round tournament in Iceland Credit: Kristian Skeie/UEFA/Getty Images

The Champions League trophy may only have been lifted by Manchester City skipper Ilkay Gundogan a little over a fortnight ago but the European Cup competition has already begun for this season.

Irish eyes are on this week’s Champions League preliminary round competition as League of Ireland champions Shamrock Rovers will play the winners of the tournament in the First Qualifying Round.

Hoops Head Coach Stephen Bradley and Sporting Director Stephen McPhail travelled to Iceland to watch Tuesday’s one legged semi-finals that saw Budućnost Podgorica defeat Andorran champions Atlètic Club d'Escaldes 3-0 in the afternoon game.

The Montenegrin outfit move on to Friday evening’s final in Kópavogsvöllur-Kopavogur where they will play Icelandic champions Breidablik who tonked San Marino side Tre Penne 7-1.

Shamrock Rovers will play the winners of Friday’s final with the first leg of their first qualifying round tie taking place in Tallaght on 11/12 July and the away leg on 18/19 July - subject to confirmation by UEFA.

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