Soccer:League champions Shamrock Rovers were handed a welcome boost today after they were seeded by Uefa for the second qualifying round of the Champions League.
It affords the Tallaght outfit genuine hope of advancing to the next stage, which would guarantee four extra European matches, including a play-off for a place in the group stages of the Europa League if required.
In financial terms it would mean a minimum payment of €550,000 from Uefa - €330,000 of which is already guaranteed - and the club would also receive €130,000 should the Hoops qualify for the next round.
Rovers would also benefit to the tune of a further €90,000 should they fail to qualify for the Champions League group stages and move into the Europa League.
Rovers were seeded as a result of FK Borac Banja Luka winning the league title in Bosnia-Herzegovina and will now face one of 17 clubs – including Linfield - in the second qualifying round.
Potential opposition includes: Dacia Chisinau (Moldova), FC Pyunik Yerevan (Armenia), FK Borac Banja Luka (Bosnia-Herzegovina),
Skonto Riga (Latvia), FC Fehérvár (Hungary), Bangor City (Wales), HB Torshavn (Faroe Islands), Linfield (Northern Ireland), Tobol Kustanai (Kazakhstan), F91 Dudelange (Luxembourg), Flora Tallinn (Estonia), Breidablik (Iceland), FC Valletta (Malta), Neftchi Baku (Azerbaijan), Shkendija Tetovo (FYR Macedonia), Skënderbeu Korçë (Albania) and FK Mogren (Montenegro).
St Patrick’s Athletic will also be seeded in the draws for both the first and second qualifying rounds of the Europa League, while Bohemians will be seeded for the second qualifying round as they are exempt from the first round. The draws for both stages of the Europa League will take place on June 20th.
With Porto winning the Europa League rather than Braga, Sligo Rovers - as FAI Ford Cup winners - will be forwarded to the third qualifying round of the Europa League. Porto’s win qualified them for next season’s Champions League.
Ireland is 29th on the Uefa access/ranking list and this is the first time an Irish club has been exempted from two rounds of a European club competition.
“Our clubs have made significant progress in Europe over the past few seasons and this year’s representatives are benefiting from those previous good results,” said Fran Gavin, director Airtricity League.
“The inclusion of Sligo Rovers in the Europa League third qualifying round is another milestone for the league and puts the group stages well in sight.
“However we should not under estimate how difficult this season’s European campaigns will be for our clubs, who are now working with reduced squads and young players, some of whom will be facing European opposition for the first time.”
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