Shelbourne and Linfield paired in mouthwatering Champions League cross-border qualifier
It's an all-Irish derby in the first round of Champions League qualifying between Damien Duff and David Healy's teams
Shelbourne and Linfield are set to clash in an historic Champions League qualifier that pits two Irish sides against each other.
And in an intriguing sub-plot, it will be former Celtic coach Damien Duff against ex- Rangers midfielder David Healy in the dugouts.
Duff led Shelbourne to an upset league title last season and they entered today's first qualifying round draw knowing there was a chance of an all-Irish derby against Linfield, the longstanding dominant force in Northern Irish football.
And so it's proved with the sides set to meet first in Dublin on Tuesday July 8 or Wednesday July 9 with the second leg at Windsor Park a week later.
It will be the second cross-border clash in a year with Shamrock facing Larne in the Conference League in October.
But the stakes are higher this time with the champions from both divisions facing in a qualifier for UEFA's top competition.
Linfield stormed to the Irish Premiership title last season as is the norm while Shelbourne upset the odds when they won the League of Ireland Premier Division under the tutelage of Duff, who previously served as a coach at Celtic Park.
The tie has huge financial implications for the team with the winner guaranteed at least two more Champions League qualifying matches – one of which at home.
It comes 20 years after the teams met in the inaugural all-Ireland Setanta Cup final, with Linfield triumphant at Tolka Park.
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