UEFA Europa Conference League: The New Saints, Bala and Newtown discover qualifying opponents
The New Saints, Bala Town and Newtown will all make the trip across the Irish Sea in Europa Conference League qualifying. (Photo: Will Cheshire/Lewis Mitchell)
Cymru Premier sides The New Saints, Bala Town and Newtown have today found out their opponents for the first qualifying round of the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League.
The draw for the new competition, which has been set up to provide more clubs with the opportunity to compete on the European stage, took place at 12:30 at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.
European regulars The Saints were drawn to face Northern Irish side Glentoran, who finished third in last season’s NIFL Premiership.
Anthony Limbrick’s side will be away in Belfast for the first leg, which will be held on Thursday July 8, before hosting the Glens at Park Hall a week later.
Bala’s latest foray in Europe will see them take on Larne, who finished a place below Glentoran in fourth in Northern Ireland’s top-flight league.
The Lakesiders, who will be making their seventh appearance in European qualifying, will be at home in the first leg, which will be played at TNS’ Park Hall on July 8, before travelling to Inver Park for the second leg seven days later.
After qualifying for the Europa Conference League via the play-offs, Newtown have been paired with Dundalk, who are currently struggling in the League of Ireland Premier Division, sitting one place above the relegation zone in eighth after 15 games.
Chris Hughes’ side, who are competing in Europe for the first time since the 2015-16 season, will be away in the first leg on July 8, before returning to Wales to host the Lilywhites at Park Hall one week later.
The home ties for The New Saints and Newtown are provisional and subject to change, however, with both teams currently set to play at Park Hall on the same day (July 15).
It was announced earlier today that people arriving in Ireland from the UK must undergo a 10-day home quarantine, as well as producing two negative PCR results, as the Irish Government tightens its rules amid rising COVID-19 infections.
(Featured image: Will Cheshire/Lewis Mitchell)
