Soccer:Shamrock Rovers will face Lithuanian champions FK Ekranas in the second round of the Champions League qualifiers.
This morning’s draw in Nyon was, on paper, a good one for the League of Ireland champions, who will meet the lowest ranked side they could have faced on July 17th or 18th.
Rovers will be at home first before a trip to Lithuania a week later.
Ekranas, who are chasing a fifth consecutive Lithauanian A Lyga title, are no strangers to Irish shores, having been beaten 2-1 on aggregate by Cork City in a first round qualifier for the 2005 Uefa Cup.
In the Europa League qualifiers Bohemiansand St Patrick's Athleticwill both face Icelandic opposition.
Pat’s will be confident ahead of taking on IBV Vestmannaeyar, who they beat 2-1 over two legs last year to progress to the second round of qualifying. Richmond Park will be the venue for the first leg on July 5th before a trip to Iceland a week later.
Bohs will face Thor Akureyri, something of an unknown quantity from the Icelandic second division, but they too will be feel they've been gifted a real opportunity to progress to the second round, where Sligo Roverswill face Spartak Trnava from Slovakia.
Trnava finished second in the Slovak Super Liga last season and progressed through three rounds of qualifiers for the Europa League before being beaten 3-1 in a two-legged play-off by Lokomotiv Moscow.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
First qualifying round draw (July 3rd/4th and July 10th/11th)
F91 Dudelange (LUX) v SP Tre Penne (SMR)
Valletta FC (MLT) v FC Lusitans (AND)
Linfield FC (NIR) v B36 Tórshavn (FRO)
Second qualifying round draw (July 17th/18th and July 24th/25th)
KS Skënderbeu (ALB) v Debreceni VSC (HUN)
NK Maribor (SVN) v FK Željezničar (BIH)
MŠK Žilina (SVK) v Hapoel Kiryat Shmona FC (ISR)
FC BATE Borisov (BLR) v FK Vardar (MKD)
AEL Limassol FC (CYP) v Linfield FC (NIR)/B36 Tórshavn (FRO)
Shamrock Rovers FC (IRL) v FK Ekranas (LTU)
FC Flora Tallinn (EST) v FC Basel 1893 (SUI)
The New Saints FC (WAL) v Helsingborgs IF (SWE)
HJK Helsinki (FIN) v KR Reykjavík (ISL)
Molde FK (NOR) v FK Ventspils (LVA)
F91 Dudelange (LUX)/SP Tre Penne (SMR) v FC Salzburg (AUT)
FC Slovan Liberec (CZE) v FC Shakhter Karagandy (KAZ)
PFC Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL) v GNK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)
Neftçi PFK (AZE) v FC Zestafoni (GEO)
Ulisses FC (ARM) v FC Sheriff (MDA)
Valletta FC (MLT)/FC Lusitans (AND) v FK Partizan (SRB)
FK Budućnost Podgorica (MNE) v WKS Śląsk Wroclaw (POL)
EUROPA LEAGUE
First qualifying round (July 5th and July 12th)
İnter Bakı PİK (AZE) v JK Trans Narva (EST)
FK Senica (SVK) v MTK Budapest (HUN)
KF Tirana (ALB) v CS Grevenmacher (LUX)
FC Torpedo Kutaisi (GEO) v FC Aktobe (KAZ)
FK Borac Banja Luka (BIH) v FK Čelik Nikšić (MNE)
Bakı FK (AZE) v NK Mura (SVN)
IF Elfsborg (SWE) v Floriana FC (MLT)
FK Renova (MKD) v AC Libertas (SMR)
FC Santa Coloma (AND) v NK Osijek (CRO)
FK Jagodina (SRB) v FC Ordabasy Shymkent (KAZ)
FC Differdange 03 (LUX) v NSÍ Runavík (FRO)
Rosenborg BK (NOR) v Crusaders FC (NIR)
Myllykosken Pallo-47 (FIN) v Cefn Druids AFC (WAL)
FC Šiauliai (LTU) v FC Levadia Tallinn (EST)
Bohemian FC (IRL) v Thór Akureyri (ISL)
FK Sarajevo (BIH) v Hibernians FC (MLT)
FC Twente (NED) v UE Santa Coloma (AND)
FK Rudar Pljevlja (MNE) v FC Shirak (ARM)
KS Flamurtari (ALB) v Budapest Honvéd FC (HUN)
FC Dacia Chişinău (MDA) v NK Celje (SVN)
FK Sūduva (LTU) v FC Daugava (LVA)
KuPS Kuopio (FIN) v Llanelli AFC (WAL)
Kalmar FF (SWE) v Cliftonville FC (NIR)
Vikingur (FRO) v FC Gomel (BLR)
FH Hafnarfjördur (ISL) v FC USV Eschen-Mauren (LIE)
KKS Lech Poznań (POL) v FC Zhetysu Taldykorgan (KAZ)
Xäzär Länkäran FK (AZE) v JK Nõmme Kalju (EST)
Birkirkara FC (MLT) v FK Metalurg Skopje (MKD)
FK Zeta (MNE) v FC Pyunik (ARM)
KS Teuta (ALB) v FC Metalurgi Rustavi (GEO)
NK Olimpija Ljubljana (SVN) v AS Jeunesse Esch (LUX)
EB/Streymur (FRO) v FC Gandzasar Kapan (ARM)
Saint Patrick's Athletic FC (IRL) v ÍBV Vestmannaeyjar (ISL)
SK Liepājas Metalurgs (LVA) v SP La Fiorita (SMR)
JJK Jyväskylä (FIN) v Stabæk Fotball (NOR)
FC Zimbru Chişinău (MDA) v Bangor City FC (WAL)
FK Skendija 79 (MKD) v Portadown FC (NIR)
