Who are Shamrock Rovers’ Conference League opponents The New Saints?

Shamrock Rovers play their third league stage game of the 2024/25 UEFA Conference League on Thursday in Tallaght (kick-off 5.45pm).

Who are their opponents The New Saints (TNS)?

They are the reigning Welsh champions having been title winners on the last four occasions. 

What European pedigree do they have?

The Welsh champions have extensive experience as they have played in Europe every season since 2000. However, this is the first time a team from Wales has made a league stage or group stage of a UEFA club competition. 

TNS dumped Bohs out of the Champions League qualifiers in 2010 after overcoming a first leg loss by winning the second leg in 4-0. That match took place on the eve of Rovers’ Europa League qualifier 1-0 away win over Bnei Yehuda which set up Rovers' game against Juventus in the next round.

This season TNS beat Montenegrin champions Decic 4-1 on aggregate in the first round of the Champions League before losing to Ferencvaros 7-1 on aggregate in the second round and to Moldovan side Petroclub Hincesti 1-0 in the third qualifying round of the Europa League.

Their win over Panevezys 3-0 on aggregate in the play-off round of the Conference League earned them a place in the Conference League league stage.

They lost 2-0 away to Fiorentina on Match Day one and followed that up with a 2-0 home win over Astana.

How did they do in Europe last season?

They lost 5-1 on aggregate in Champions League first qualifying round to Swedish side BK Häcken and in the Conference League second qualifying round 4-3 on aggregate to Luxembourg side Swift Hesper.

Have the two sides met before?

No but Shamrock Rovers have played Welsh opposition on one previous occasion. Back in the 1967 European Cup Winners Cup, the Hoops drew 1-1 in Dalymount Park in the first leg of their first round tie before losing 2-0 away.

Who to watch out for?

(with thanks to clwbpeldroed.org)

Danny Redmond

An absolute baller. A quality player if things go right for him. He's brilliant from a deadball situation, and he's calm and composed on the ball. He can play in a variety of positions, but against Astana he played left-back. 

Declan McManus

McManus was signed from Dunfermine Athletic for what was believed to be a league-record fee of around £60,000. 

He had a brilliant first two seasons, winning the Golden Boot award back-to-back with 53 goals over two campaigns. Last season, the spotlight was kind of taken off of him following the arrival of Brad Young, who lit the league up. Young has since earned a move to Saudi Arabia, and now the limelight is back on McManus.

He's brilliant from the penalty spot and scored against Astana. 

Jack Bodenham

A solid centre-back that returned to the club this summer. He was on the books of Cardiff City before and loaned out to TNS, before playing for a few non-league clubs in England like Blyth Spartans and South Shields. I think he'd do well against any forward, and he's quite imposing on strikers. 

What are their recent results?

They sit second in the Cymru Premier League with 30 points from 13 games, four behind league leaders Penybont (but with two games in hand).

They have won their last seven matches in a row (including five in the league, one in the Conference and a 16-0, yes sixteen nil, Welsh Cup win over Llangollen Town FC).

What formation do they play?

In the last year 4-3-3 is their preferred set up (57% of the time) with a 4-2-3-1 used next most (17%).

How can I watch the match?

The game is live on Premier Sports 2 in Ireland and on TNT in the UK.

How many teams make qualify from league stage?

Of the 36 teams in the league stage, 24 teams will advance into the knockout stages in February 2025. Teams one to eight get a bye and go directly into the round of 16, while ninth to 24^th will go into a series of two legged matches to earn the right to go to the last 16. Teams 25 to 36 will be eliminated.

Rovers are tenth in the table after match day two, while TNS are 19th.

What point total is required to qualify?

Seven points minimum from the six games would most likely put a team in 24th position or better.

How much prize money has Rovers banked?

Rovers’ earnings are now over the €4.4m mark for this European campaign.

League of Ireland clubs handed €43m boost in Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund - https://t.co/94rjArr8tjhttps://t.co/pwAaSP7DjP

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