How potential Shelbourne v Linfield rematch could make UEFA history
The League of Ireland Premier Division champions faced off with Irish League kingpins Linfield in Champions League qualifying action last month, winning 1-0 at Tolka Park before drawing in Belfast to progress to the next round.
Defeat to Qarabag saw Shels drop down to the Europa League qualification rounds, where they will face Rijeka with the first-leg taking place on Wednesday. Should they win that game, they will face either PAOK of Greece or Austrian outfit Wolfsberger.
However, another loss for Shels would see them move down to Conference League qualification, where they would play the winner of the tie between Vikingur (Faroe Islands) or Linfield.
Should Shelbourne and Linfield end up facing each other in Conference League qualification, it would mark the first time ever that two teams have faced off in Champions League qualifiers and Europa League/Conference League qualifiers in the same Summer.
Europa League play-off draw:
Shelbourne / Rijeka v PAOK (Greece) / Wolfsberger (Austria)
Conference League play-off draw:
Loser of Shelbourne / Rijeka v Winner of Vikingur (Faroe Islands) / Linfield
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Rangers boss insists post-match rant came from place of 'love and care'
Russell Martin claims his criticism of some of his Rangers squad following their deflating 1-1 draw with Motherwell on Saturday came from a position of "love and care." The Gers boss hit out following the William Hill Premiership opener at Fir Park, questioning mentality, speaking about "egos" and accusing some of "self-preservation". Martin was speaking again at the club's training ground ahead of the first leg of the Champions League third qualifier against Czech side Viktoria Plzen at Ibrox on Tuesday night, where a play-off tie against Austrian outfit Salzburg or Club Brugge of Belgium awaits the winners. 'I think if they know us by now as a group of coaches that it all comes from a place of love and care for them,' said the Gers boss, who replied 'hopefully he will be in it, we will wait and see', when asked if new signing Oliver Antman, the Finland winger who joined from Go Ahead Eagles on Monday, will be included in the squad. 'We are here, myself, Gilly (Matt Gill, assistant), the coaches, ultimately for the players. 'We're here to win football matches, but as coaches day to day, we are here to help the players. 'That's our job, to help them win, to help them develop, to help them improve and understand why, to help them enjoy playing for a club like this, because I don't think too many of them have enjoyed it enough to play for this amazing football club, because it's not always easy. 'I don't come out and say that because I want to be ruthless and all that stuff. 'If they know me as a person, the people who do know me, they know it comes from a place of love and to help them and to want them to be better. 'So I think when it comes from that place, whatever is said and if they understand that, then we'll always have a really honest and good conversation about it. 'I hope they understand who we are by now and what we're here to do, and I really believe they're really trying. 'So they're good people, but the default to try and protect yourself when it gets tough, we need to just shed that a little bit.' Martin confirmed that Thelo Aasgaard and Hamza Igamane will again miss out through fitness issues while it is not clear if Mikey Moore, the 17-year-old attacker who has signed on loan from Tottenham, will receive international clearance in time to be part of the squad. On the task facing his side, Martin said: 'The game is going to be tough. 'They are really powerful, really strong, play forward quickly, run forward quickly. 'It's a really different test to the Panathinaikos one and it is a really interesting and exciting one for us. 'They have strength in certain areas, but we have to try and turn the game, especially at Ibrox, into the game that we want, move the ball quickly, better than we did the other day. 'We have to really be up for the fight against these guys but I am looking forward to it.'
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
‘They fumbled so hard' – Liverpool fans troll Chelsea as ex-Blues wonderkid Rio Ngumoha, 16, scores amazing solo goal
Ngumoha has revealed a Kop star has recently taken him under his wing LIVERPOOL fans brutally mocked Chelsea moments after Rio Ngumoha's sensational pre-season strike against Athletic Bilbao. The 16-year-old continued his fine pre-season goalscoring form with a superb solo effort against the La Liga big boys. 4 Rio Ngumoha has been one of the stars of Liverpool's pre-season Credit: Getty 4 The 16-year-old scored a sensational solo goal against Athletic Bilbao on Monday Credit: EPA 4 Liverpool fans flocked to social media to troll Chelsea for letting the teen sensation leave Credit: Alamy The teenager curled the ball into the far corner from well outside the 18-yard box following a superb solo run from just inside his own half. And the Anfield faithful couldn't help but troll Chelsea for selling the starlet to them last year after he found the back of the net. One wrote on X: "Chelsea would rather buy some random kid from Brazil than keep Rio Ngumoha. "They fumbled so hard." READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS INTO THE BLUE Sterling leads 9 Chelsea flops banished from website as 47-man squad revealed Another said: "He looks exceptional. Wow" And another said: "Another Cobham wonderkid." One chimed in: "Chelsea banned Liverpool scouts from attending their youth games after we signed Rio Ngumoha. "And I honestly don't blame them." SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET £50 BONUS WHEN YOU JOIN 4 Liverpool signed Rio Ngumoha from Chelsea in September 2024 Credit: Getty Ngumoha joined the Reds from Liverpool's academy last September and has flourished ever since. He was one of the star performers in the Reds' Under-18s squad last season. Forgotten Liverpool star who was hero of 2005 Champions League campaign now starring in world of professional FOOTGOLF Kop chief Arne Slot rewarded him for his exploits in January by handing him his professional debut in the Reds' FA Cup third-round tie with Accrington Stanley. Ngumoha's Cup appearance saw him become the Anfield club's second-youngest debutant. Ngumoha has loved every minute of pre-season with the Premier League champions and recently revealed that veteran defender Andy Robertson has taken him under his wing over the last few weeks. He told the club's official website: "Robbo has really helped me a lot. "He's so experienced and one of the best left-backs in the world. "I feel like having him behind me, I can't really ask for anything more. "He's experienced and teaches me a lot.' The Reds ran out 4-1 winners in the first of their back-to-back games with Bilbao, with goals from Ngumoha, Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliot - along with an OG from Alex Padilla - sealing the victory.
Irish Examiner
3 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
'We want to get him fit' - St Mirren boss has plans for former Cork City man Dijksteel
St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson intends on gradually integrating Malik Dijksteel into his team after granting the ex-Cork City winger his debut at Parkhead on Sunday. The original plan for the Dutchman joining the Scottish Premiership club in January was fast-tracked last week following a public spat with his City manager Ger Nash. It transpired the 24-year-old had, in fact, made himself available for last Friday week's game against Sligo Rovers despite claims to the contrary from his manager. City received a small fee for brokering a deal that suited all parties and the winger was named on the bench for Sunday's league opener against Celtic. Robinson introduced his new capture late on in the game played before bumper opening day crowd of 58,814. The Buddies were three minutes away from holding Celtic until Luke McCowan's deflected winner punctured their resistance. Lisburn-born Robinson also blooded another former League of Ireland graduate at Paradise. Tunmise Sobowale was two years ago sold by his hometown club Waterford to Shrewsbury Town and via a spell at Swindon Town was recently recruited by the Saints. Killian Phillips, who made his Ireland debut in the summer friendlies, also arrived in Paisley over the summer, upgrading his loan from Crystal Palace into a permanent deal. 'We've seen an incredible piece of athleticism from Tunmise but he's not played any football,' said Robinson after the wing-back's 15-minute league bow. 'Malik was only in the building two days and I'm not sure he touched the ball after he came on. 'We want to get these boys fit to have them as options, starting with next week. There's a reserve game this week and hopefully we'll have more selection headaches for our next game against Motherwell.' Liam Scales and Adam Idah started for Celtic, with Sligo native Johnny Kenny replacing the latter with 12 minutes left. Celtic were on Monday paired against either Kazakhstan outfit Kairy Almaty or Slovan Bratislava in the playoff round of the Champions League to be played in just over a fortnight. Idah was influential in the Bhoys' run to the knockout playoffs, where they lost in February to a late Bayern Munich goal.
