Shamrock Rovers have learned their group-stage opponents for their first-ever UEFA Conference League campaign, with a massive away day against English giants Chelsea ahead for the Irish side.
The League of Ireland champions were guaranteed to progress to a competition proper after reaching the Europa League playoffs earlier this month. Defeat to PAOK of Greece was sealed when the visitors ran out 2-0 winners in Tallaght on Thursday night, meaning that Rovers drop into UEFA's newest club competition.
It is the first time any Irish side has qualified for the Conference League since its inception in 2021, the first time any Irish side has qualified for a European group stage since Dundalk in 2020, and Shamrock Rovers' first European adventure since the Europa League group stages of 2011-12.
The draw for the UEFA Conference League group phase was conducted on Friday afternoon, with the standout tie a daunting trip to Stamford Bridge.
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Shamrock Rovers to face Chelsea in UEFA Conference League
29 August 2024; Darragh Burns of Shamrock Rovers, 21, and Rafa Soares of PAOK shake hands after the UEFA Europa League play-off second leg match between Shamrock Rovers and PAOK at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile
The new format for the UEFA Conference League sees the 36 qualified teams split into six seeding groups. Shamrock Rovers were sorted into pot four of six.
Each team plays one side from each pot, with three home games and three away games in total. The very first team drawn was the most enticing (and daunting) for Rovers fans, with two-time Champions League winners Chelsea drawn at home against Stephen Bradley's men.
Though Chelsea are undoubtedly operating at a lower level than they were for much of the 2000s and 2010s, it is still a mouthwatering tie against one of Europe's biggest clubs for Shamrock Rovers.
Another of Shamrock Rovers' away days will bring them up north to face Irish Premiership side Larne, who have become the first Northern Irish club ever to qualify for a European group stage. They will also host the New Saints of Wales in Dublin.
Another recognisable name will be coming to Dublin during the group stages, with Rovers set to host APOEL Nicosia. The tie will reunite Rovers star Jack Byrne with his former club.
The dates of the fixtures are yet to be confirmed. Shamrock Rovers' draw in full is as follows.
- Pot one: Chelsea (England, away)
- Pot two: APOEL Nicosia (Cyprus, home)
- Pot three: SK Rapid (Austria, away)
- Pot four: The New Saints (Wales, home)
- Pot five: Borac (Bosnia, home)
- Pot six: Larne (Northern Ireland, away)
After Thursday night's playoff second-leg defeat against PAOK, Stephen Bradley explained how he will approach balancing Shamrock Rovers' League of Ireland charge with a maiden Conference League campaign.
The Rovers boss said that getting players to the level required and keeping them there would be the biggest challenge for the coming months,
We have players that we're trying to get up to speed. We're trying to get them minutes. We know everyone is going to be important between now and the end of the season.
It's about trying to get them up to speed. We've a lot of big games coming up between now and Christmas and it's about trying to get everybody up to a level.
Obviously, we'll be looking forward to it. It's an exciting time. But I don't really mind who we get, to be honest.
It's an exciting time for Shamrock Rovers fans, with the dates of their Conference League fixtures set to be released on Saturday afternoon.
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