Second qualifying round opponents confirmed for LOI clubs
- Macdara Ferris
- Wed, Jun 15 2022
The draw for the second qualifying rounds of both the Champions League and Europa Conference League were made at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland on Wednesday.
FAI Cup holders St. Patrick’s Athletic learned who they will face first in Europe this year, with Derry City and Sligo Rovers learning who they will play in the second qualifying round of the Europa Conference League should they win their first ties in Europe.
Meanwhile League of Ireland champions Shamrock Rovers learned of their prospective opponents in the second qualifying round of the Champions League should they beat Hibernians of Malta and also who they will play if Hibernians emerge victorious from their tie.
St. Patrick’s Athletic
The Saints as cup holders will enter the second qualifying round of the Europa Conferecnce League where they will face the winner of the first round qualifier between Stintul Gheorghe (Moldova) and Mura (Slovenia) on July 21st and 28th.
The first leg is at home (subject to confirmation of dates and venue by the club).
Derry City
Should the Candystripes overcome Riga FC in the first round (currently set for a first leg at home on July 7thand away game in Latvia on July 14th), they will play either Ruzomberok (Slovakia) or Kauno Zalgiris (Lithuania) in the second qualifying round.
Sligo Rovers
The Bit O’ Red will be keeping it local if they progress in the Europa Conference League qualifiers. They were drawn against Welsh side Bala Town with the first leg away in Park Hall Stadium on 7th July and the second leg in the Showgrounds on Thursday 14th July.
Should they progress they will play Scottish side Motherwell in the second round qualifiers on July 21st and 28th with the first leg in Scotland.
Shamrock Rovers
If the Hoops can beat Hibernians of Malta, they will play either Ludogorets (Bulgaria) or Sutjeska (Montenegro) in the second qualifying round of the Champions League. Win that tie and they will be guaranteed at least an appearance in the Europa Conference League group stages.
However, should they lose to the Maltese champions they will drop into the second qualifying round of the Europa Conference League where they will face the defeated team from the Levadia Tallinn v Vikingur Reykjavik tie.
Rovers confirmed on Wednesday that they will play the first leg against Hibernians at home in Tallaght on Tuesday July 5th (8pm kick-off), with the second leg confirmed by the club for Malta on Tuesday 12th of July.
The away tie will be played in the Centenary Stadium in Ta’Qali adjacent to the National Stadium with a 8pm kick-off time locally (7pm Tallaght time).
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
