eircom League champions Shelbourne have been drawn against Maltese champions Hibernians in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. The first-leg will be played in Paola, Malta on Wednesday July 17 with the return leg in Tollka Park a week later. If Shels get through that encounter they will face an intriguing second qualifying round clash with Portuguese side Boavista, with the ties to be played on July 31 and August 7.
In the UEFA Cup, Shamrock Rovers are away in their first-leg tie against Swedish club Djurgardens, while Dundalk will also play away first against Croatian side Varteks. The first-legs of the qualifying round will be played on the 15 of August while the return matches have been scheduled for the 29.
Northern Ireland Smirnoff Premiership champions Portadown have been drawn against Belarussian champions FC Belshina Bobruisk in the first qualifying round of the Champions League, with an attractive clash with crack Israeli side Maccabi Haifa awaiting the winner. In the UEFA Cup, League runners-up Glentoran will take on Polish club Wisla Krakow, while Linfield were paired with Norwegian club Stabaek.
Draw for first qualifying round of the Champions League:1. Tampere Utd v Pyunik2. Skoto Riga v Barry Town3. Portadown v FC Belshina Bobruisk4. F91 Dudelange v Vardar5. FBK Kaunas v Dinamo Tirana6. FC Flora Talinn v Apoel Nicosia7. Zeljeznicar Sarajevo v Akranes8. Hibernians v Shelbourne9. Torpedo Kutaisi v B36 Torshavn10. FC Sheriff Tiraspol v Zhenis Astana
Draw for second qualifying round:Zalaegerszeg v FC ZagrebClub Brugge v Dinamo BucurestiMSK Zilina v BasleWinners match 2 v Levski SofiaDinamo Kiev v Winners match 1Brondby v Winners match 5NK Maribor v Winners match 6Winners match 4 v Legia WarsawBoavista v Winners match 8Maccabi Haifa v Winners match 3Lillestrom v Winners match 7Hammarby v Partizan Belgrade Sparta Prague v Winners match 9Winners match 10 v Graz AK
Filed by Shane Murray
