Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Shelbourne player rejoice after qualifying for Conference League

Conference League diary mapped out for Shels and Hoops

Fixture details for Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers in the Conference League have been confirmed, with both sides beginning their league phase on 2 October.

Soccer • 30 Aug

28 August 2025; John Martin, left, and Mipo Odubeko of Shelbourne celebrate after during the UEFA Conference League Play-off Round second leg match between Linfield and Shelbourne at the Clearer Twist National Football Stadium, Windsor Park in Belfast. Ph

Shels to host Palace after Conference League draw

Shelbourne will welcome FA Cup winners Crystal Palace to Dublin and will also face an away trip to play Troy Parrott's AZ Alkmaar after the draw for the Conference League was made this afternoon.

Soccer • 29 Aug

A general view inside the auditorium prior to the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase Draw at Grimaldi Forum on August 29, 2025 in Monaco, Monaco.

Conference League recap: Shels and Hoops discover fates

Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers have discovered who they will face in the league phase of the Conference League after the draw ceremony in Monaco.

Soccer • 29 Aug

Worrying stat underpins night of double joy for LOI

In a week when Irish football had good reason to examine its flaws, its clubs gave us every reason to celebrate its potential.

Soccer • 29 Aug

FREDRIKSTAD, NORWAY - AUGUST 28: Daichi Kamada of Crystal Palace and Patrick Metcalfe, Solomon Owusu of Fredrikstad FK battle for a ball during the UEFA Conference League Play-off Round Second Leg match between Fredrikstad and Crystal Palace on August 28,

Conference League: Palace advance after stalemate

Crystal Palace secured their place in the league phase of the Conference League following a goalless draw against Fredrikstad.

Soccer • 28 Aug

27 August 2025; Head coach Joey O'Brien during a Shelbourne pitch walk at Clearer Twist National Football Stadium, Windsor Park in Belfast. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

O'Brien: 'When you think you're safe, you're unsafe'

Shelbourne manager Joey O'Brien implored his players not to fall prey to tension as they seek to secure league phase football in Europe for the first time

Soccer • 28 Aug

Shelbourne head coach Joey O'Brien is interviewed for RTÉ before the UEFA Conference League Play-off Round first leg match between Shelbourne and Linfield at Tolka Park in Dublin.

Shels boss O'Brien: 'It's still all to play for'

Joey O'Brien kept his feet on the ground after Shelbourne's 3-1 win against Linfield in the first leg of their Conference League play-off, warning: "It's still all to play for."

Soccer • 22 Aug

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 21: Jean-Philippe Mateta of Crystal Palace and Ulrik Fredriksen of Fredrikstad during the UEFA EUROPA Conference League match between Crystal Palace and Fredrikstad FK at Selhurst Park on August 21, 2025 in London, England. (Photo

European qualifiers: Palace win without Eze

Crystal Palace put the impending departure of Eberechi Eze to one side as they started their Conference League campaign by edging out Fredrikstad 1-0.

Soccer • 21 Aug

21 August 2025; Danny Mandroiu of Shamrock Rovers celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the UEFA Conference League Play-off Round first leg match between CD Santa Clara and Shamrock Rovers FC at the Estadio de São Miguel in Ponta Delgada,

Shamrock Rovers stun Santa Clara in Conference League

Shamrock Rovers find themselves firmly in the driving seat in their Conference League play-off joust with Santa Clara, following a famous defeat of the Portuguese side at the Estadio de Sao Miguel at Ponta Delgada.

Soccer • 22 Aug

Evan Caffrey of Shelbourne celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the UEFA Conference League Play-off Round first leg match between Shelbourne and Linfield at Tolka Park in Dublin

Shels beat 10-man Linfield in pulsating Tolka clash

Goals from Harry Wood, Mipo Odubeko and Evan Caffrey saw Shelbourne grind down ten-man Linfield to earn a 3-1 win in the first leg of their Conference League play-off at Tolka Park on Thursday night.

Soccer • 27 Aug

21 August 2025; Harry Wood of Shelbourne in action against Sam Roscoe of Linfield during the UEFA Conference League Play-off Round first leg match between Shelbourne and Linfield at Tolka Park in Dublin. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Conference League play-offs: Wins for Shels and Rovers

Follow updates on the first leg of an All-Ireland Conference League play-off between Shelbourne and Linfield while Shamrock Rovers travel to the Azores to take on Santa Clara.

Soccer • 21 Aug

16 July 2025; Evan Caffrey of Shelbourne in action against Chris Shields of Linfield during the UEFA Champions League First Qualifying Round second leg match between Linfield and Shelbourne at Clearer Twist National Football Stadium at Windsor Park in Bel

Conference Lge preview: Shels and Hoops begin play-offs

It's a historic week in Europe for Irish clubs as two teams bid to qualify for the league phase of the Conference League. Here is all you need to know.

Soccer • 21 Aug

Shelbourne head coach Joey O'Brien leaves the pitch after his side's defeat to St Pat's Athletic in 2025 FAI Cup third round

O'Brien disappointed by losing 'monster' FAI Cup game

While Shelbourne have the chance to extend their European adventure in the upcoming Conference League play-off against Linfield, head coach was disappointed to lose what he dubbed a "monster game" against St Pat''s Athletic in the FAI Cup third round.

Soccer • 17 Aug

Linfield's Kieran Offord celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game during the UEFA Conference League, third qualifying round, second leg match at Windsor Park

Conference League: Linfield and Hibs into play-offs

Linfield are through to the play-off for the third time in six years and will face League of Ireland champions Shelbourne for the second time this summer after beating Vikingur 2-0 to claim a 3-2 aggregate victory.

Soccer • 15 Aug

14 August 2025; Rory Gaffney of Shamrock Rovers celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the UEFA Conference League Third Qualifying Round second leg match between Shamrock Rovers and Ballkani at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Stephen

Hoops hammer Ballkani to reach UCL play-offs

Shamrock Rovers booked their place in the UEFA Conference League play-off round in style as they trounced FC Ballkani in this third qualifying round second leg at Tallaght Stadium.

Soccer • 15 Aug

Matt Healy of Shamrock Rovers in action against Ardit Deliu of Ballkani during the UEFA Conference League Third Qualifying Round first leg match between Ballkani and Shamrock Rovers at Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina, Kosovo

Conference League qualifiers: All you need to know

Shamrock Rovers welcome Kosovan side Ballkani to Tallaght, while St Pat's are in Istanbul to take on Besiktas. We look ahead to both Conference League third-round qualifier second legs.

Soccer • 14 Aug

[Josh Honohan of Shamrock Rovers, left, reacts during the UEFA Conference League Third Qualifying Round first leg match between Ballkani and Shamrock Rovers at Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina, Kosovo

Sunday warning but Hoops backed to slay Ballkani

Shamrock Rovers have work to do if they're to continue their Conference League journey this year, but Richie Towell and David McMillan both expect Stephen Bradley's men to turn things around against Ballkani tonight.

Soccer • 14 Aug

6 August 2025; Shelbourne players celebrate after their victory in the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round first leg match between Rijeka and Shelbourne at HNK Rijeka Stadium Rujevica in Rijeka, Croatia. Photo by Igor Kupjlenik/Sportsfile

Preview: Shelbourne on cusp of European breakthrough

Shelbourne enter the biggest European night at Tolka Park in a generation as Croatian side Rijeka come to Dublin in a Europa League third round play-off second leg.

Soccer • 12 Aug

Bradley glad to be still in the tie ahead of second leg

It was an evening of mixed emotions for Stephen Bradley after his side's 1-0 loss to Ballkani in the first leg of their third round Conference League clash, with the Shamrock Rovers manager somewhat frustrated by the below-par showing in Kosovo.

Soccer • 07 Aug

Conference League: Defeats for Linfield and Larne

Linfield went down narrowly to Vikingur of the Faroe Islands in the first leg of their third round Conference League qualifying clash, while Larne have more of a mountain to climb as they slumped to a 3-0 defeat at home to Portuguese side Santa Clara.

Soccer • 07 Aug

Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley celebrates after the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between Shamrock Rovers and Derry City at Tallaght Stadium

Bradley braced for 'hostile' reception in Kosovo

Stephen Bradley is braced for a "hostile" reception in Kosovo tonight as Shamrock Rovers look to earn a positive result in the first leg of their Conference League third-round qualifier against Ballkani.

Soccer • 07 Aug

Chris Forrester of St Patrick's Athletic scores his side's first goal during the UEFA Conference League Second Qualifying Round first leg match v Nomme Kalju

Kenny would be happy to leave it late against Besiktas

St Patrick's Athletic manager Stephen Kenny won't be too concerned if his side don't score early on in their UEFA Conference League qualifier against Besiktas at Tallaght Stadium tonight.

Soccer • 07 Aug

Rory Gaffney of Shamrock Rovers celebrates with team-mate Josh Honohan, right, after scoring their side's first goal during the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between Shamrock Rovers and Derry City at Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers and St Pat's set for big European tests

Shamrock Rovers and St Patrick's Athletic are both in UEFA Conference League action this evening as they continue their chase of league stage football.

Soccer • 07 Aug

31 July 2025; St Patrick's Athletic manager Stephen Kenny celebrates after his side's victory in the UEFA Conference League Second Qualifying Round second leg match between Nõmme Kalju FC and St Patrick's Athletic at Lilleküla Stadium in Tallinn, Estonia.

Pat's can 'shock' under-pressure Solskjaer's Besiktas

St Patrick's Athletic have the potential to pull off a shock result against an under pressure Besiktas in the Conference League, according to RTÉ soccer analyst Alan Cawley

Soccer • 07 Aug

16 July 2025; Harry Wood of Shelbourne in action against Ben Hall of Linfield during the UEFA Champions League First Qualifying Round second leg match between Linfield and Shelbourne at Clearer Twist National Football Stadium at Windsor Park in Belfast. P

Shels may face Linfield rematch in European decider

Shelbourne could be on track for a rematch with Linfield for a place in the league stage of the UEFA Conference League.

Soccer • 04 Aug