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Favourable draws for Irish sides in Europe

Shamrock Rovers will learn their opponent on 30 June
Shamrock Rovers will learn their opponent on 30 June

Shamrock Rovers have been handed a favourable draw for the first round of Champions League qualifying.

The Hoops were paired with the winner of the preliminary qualifying round in the draw at lunchtime.

The preliminary round consists of four teams who play one-leg semi-finals and then a final later this month.

They are Atletic Club d'Escaldes from Andorra, Podgorica of Montenegro, Tre Penne from San Marino and Icelandic side Breidablik.

The final will be played on 30 June.

A two-legged first round tie will be played on 11/12 July and 18/19 July.

Victory in the first round would secure Stephen Bradley's side a Europa Conference League play-off at worst.

The Conference League draw has also been kind to the League of Ireland sides.

Gibraltarian footballers will be back on these shores again next month when Bruno's Magpies face Dundalk in the second leg tie. Oriel Park had originally being slated to host the first leg but UEFA communicated that the legs had been reversed with Stephen O'Donnell's side playing their first leg away from home.

The Magpies reached Europe for the first time last year.

Derry City face a trip to the Faroe Islands against HB Tórshavn in the first leg.

St Patrick's Athletic will travel to Luxembourg to take on F91 Diddeleng. They were beaten 4-0 by Bohemians in the second round in 2021 over two legs.

St Pat's beat Mura in the first round last year

The two-legged first qualifying round ties will take place on 13 and 20 July.

Second round draws will be made by UEFA on Wednesday, which will include all four Irish sides.

Champions League first round:

Shamrock Rovers v Premlimary Round Winner TBC

Europa Conference League first round:

Dundalk v Bruno's Magpies (Gibraltar)

HB Tórshavn (Faroe Islands) v Derry City

F91 Diddeleng (Luxembourg) v St Patrick's Athletic

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