Friday, December 27, 2024

Europa Conference League: Cliftonville to play FK Auda or B36 Torshavn in second qualifying round

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Cliftonville have been drawn to play Latvian side FK Auda or B36 Torshavn of the Faroe Islands in the second qualifying round of the Europa Conference League.

The Reds, who won the Irish Cup for the first time in 45 years in May, will be away for the first leg on 25 July before Solitude hosts the return leg on 1 August.

Irish Premiership winners Larne will face Latvian side FC RFS in the first qualifying round of the Champions League while, in the Conference League, Crusaders face a short trip to Wales and Linfield are to meet Icelandic opposition.

Tiernan Lynch’s side will travel to Riga for the first-leg on 9/10 July before hosting the return fixture on either 16 July or 17 July.

Larne will face Norway’s Bodo/Glimt in the second round if they beat Riga.

After playing their European fixtures at Solitude last season, Larne will be able to use Inver Park in this year’s continental competitions.

RFS will be familiar to fans of the Irish League after beating Linfield on penalties in a dramatic Europa Conference League play-off at Windsor Park two years ago.

Larne could have been paired with League of Ireland champions Shamrock Rovers, but Stephen Bradley’s side were instead drawn against Vikingur Reykjavik of Iceland.

The back-to-back Irish Premiership champions received a boost after the draw when their tie was picked as one of two where the losers will go directly into the third rather than second qualifying round of the Europa Conference League.

In the Conference League first qualifying round, Irish Premiership runners-up Linfield will travel to Iceland to face Stjarnan.

Crusaders, who qualified via the European play-off, were paired with Caernarfon Town of Wales.

League of Ireland side Derry City were drawn against FCB Magpies of Gibraltar.

All three will be away in their first legs on 11 July and at home seven days later.

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