Shelbourne may face Linfield rematch in European decider
The draws for the play-off rounds of the Europa and Conference League were held today in Nyon.
Should Shelbourne manage to overcome Rijeka in the third round of the Europa League, they would face the winner of Greek side PAOK and Austrian outfit Wolfsberger in the Europa League play-off round.
The first leg of the tie with Rijeka is on Wednesday.
However if Shels were to lose, they would drop to the Conference League and take on the winner of the third-round tie between Linfield and Faroe Islands outfit Víkingur.
Joey O'Brien's side defeated Linfield in the first round of Champions League qualifying, winning 1-0 in Tolka Park before a 1-1 draw in Belfast.
Shamrock Rovers may also face Northern Irish opposition in the play-off round in Larne, but the most likely opponent is Portuguese side Santa Clara.
The Hoops are in the third round of the Conference League with a tie against Kosovans FC Ballkani starting on the Thursday.
The winner of that tie will take on the winner of Larne v Santa Clara.
St Patrick's Athletic also learned their potential play-off opponent.
If the Saints overcome Turkish giants Besiktas, they will meet the winner of FC Lausanne-Sport (Switzerland) and FC Astana (Kazakhstan)
Celtic have been drawn against Kairat Almaty of Kazakhstan or Slovakian side SK Slovan Bratislava in their Champions League play-off tie.
Brendan Rodgers' side reached the knockout round play-off stage of the competition last season from the 36-team league phase, where they lost 3-2 on aggregate to German giants Bayern Munich.
Rangers will take on Austrian side Salzburg or Club Brugge of Belgium in the play-off round if they get through their third-round qualifier against Viktoria Plzen.
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The Irish Sun
18 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Joey O'Brien warns ‘there are two halves to go' as he hails Shelbourne's historic win over Rijeka in Europa League
The League of Ireland champions can guarantee Conference League football next week 'STILL OPEN' Joey O'Brien warns 'there are two halves to go' as he hails Shelbourne's historic win over Rijeka in Europa League JOEY O'BRIEN hailed a 'big result' after Shelbourne shocked Rijeka in the Europa League qualifiers. The Reds came from behind away from home to upset the Croatian league and cup holders. Advertisement 2 Joey O'Brien hailed Shelbourne's win over Rijeka Credit: Igor Kupjlenik/Sportsfile 2 Shels came from behind to win in Croatia Credit: Natasa Kupljenik/Sportsfile It means they can — at a minimum — seal their place in the Conference League group stage if they progress next week at Tolka Park. Niko Jankovic opened the scoring for the Croats from the spot but headers from Sam Bone and John Martin sealed a famous victory on the road. And Reds boss O'Brien said: 'We don't play opposition in our league as good as that. 'It was obviously going to be a really difficult game. But as I said to the boys, European football has four halves of football. 'There's two halves to go. We have a small advantage but it's two halves done and there are two halves to go. Advertisement 'Everything is still open. I still don't think we're favourites to go through. Obviously, it's a big result for us. But it's only two halves done. We have a small advantage. I still think they're the favourites. But it's a home leg for us. 'We have a good record at home and it's all to play for.' And O'Brien still thinks his side can show more ahead of next Tuesday's second leg. He explained: 'I didn't really like us in the first half in our own possession. Advertisement 'I thought we turned over the ball a bit too much. But I think our shape out of possession was really good. 'We spoke about that and addressed it.'
Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
"I like attention' - Melia embracing the European spotlight ahead of Spurs move
Mason Melia insists he thrives off the special attention he gets from opposition players both here and in he wasn't such a marked man, the teenage sensation fears he wouldn't be doing his job properly and that's why he is ready for whatever Besiktas throw at him tonight. By now, the 17-year-old striker is well versed in the school of hard knocks having been a fixture in the Saints first-team since the age of 15. He is battle hardened after that prolonged exposure to men's football and has impressed to such an extent that Tottenham have already signed him. He will move over there in January for an initial fee of close to €2 million that could soar to over €4m depending on various performance related add-ons. Click this link or scan the QR code to receive the latest League of Ireland news and top stories from the Irish Mirror. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . Melia really announced his arrival on this stage last year, with a brilliant display in St Pat's 0-0 first-leg home clash with another Turkish side, Istanbul Basaksehir. This season, he has kicked on again and scored his first European goal in the Conference League, first round clash with Lithuanian side Hegelmann. Mason Melia at Tallaght Stadium ahead of the European tie with Besiktas (Image: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne) And the striker, who idolises former Tottenham great Harry Kane, insists he can deliver again in this higher stakes clash with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's is enjoying the spotlight on and off the pitch and said: 'I kind of like attention. If you've had attention, you're doing something right. I've dealt with it and I've got a good family behind me. Everyone keeps me humble, and I think I am humble.'I've good people that I work with every day. I've grown into more of a man. I feel like I've got a bit bigger. I think I've always had my football head. Even the little things I'm learning on and off the pitch, but I think I've grown into myself.'I'm feeling more physical and ready for a bigger challenge. I'm still only 17 but I've played over 80 games in senior football and have nights like this to look forward to.'Saints boss Stephen Kenny feels Melia is targeted by opposition teams in the League of Ireland, but the player himself feels better able to handle last night, the Co Wicklow man continued: 'When I first came in, I was only 15, I was only a young lad. I had the football ability, it was just the physical side of it (that was challenging), But Pats looked after me, and made sure I got there. 'Since I was young I've been getting kicked, but I've been playing against older people since I was young. Where I play as a striker, centre-backs are the biggest people on a team. It's about being able to hold up against them and fight them off which I'm happy with now. Mason Melia ahead of the Besiktas game (Image: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne) 'I felt (targeted) last year too but I think there's more eyes on me now. I get fouled a lot but it's part of the game. The way I play, you bring in fouls.'I'm very relaxed, I take everything in my stride. I wouldn't think anything negative about it if I was getting hit or anything. It's part of the game and I don't take it personally.'For now, Melia is reluctant to open up on his monster move to Tottenham in the New Year, stressing he is a St Pat's player for the rest of this it's hard to avoid the elephant in the room too, with Melia chuffed that years of hard work and sacrifice have now come to and nights out are commonplace for teenagers his age, but Melia has always been a bit different, deeply driven and determined to make it in the game. Melia added: 'I've always been disciplined. I've known what I want since I was young. I did my Junior Cert and sat down with my ma and said 'this is what I want to do.' It's been 100 per cent discipline since. It's just natural to me now, it's my job and it's what I love doing.' Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts.
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Mason Melia believes he has 'grown into more of a man' and is ready for 'bigger challenge'
'What shiner?' Such is the physical attention million-euro kid Mason Melia has been exposed to that he doesn't notice the marks inflicted. His St Patrick's Athletic manager Stephen Kenny recently contended opposition defenders were taking turns to try rough up his 17-year-old spearhead. Melia has the endurance, in body and mind, to withstand the man-marking he's faced, full sure it will equip him for the rigours the rest of his career demands. That roadmap has him landing at Tottenham Hotspur in January, billed as the most expensive export in the League of Ireland record books. The Saints are guaranteed an upfront fee of €1.9m, incremental bonuses including Ireland caps potentially doubling it, plus a 20% slice of profit on any future sale from Spurs. He could boost their coffers in the meantime too by steering them into the playoffs of the Conference League. A haul in prize-money surpassing the €1m waterline was yielded by prevailing against Lithuanian and Estonian opposition but Beşiktaş are on a different level. This time last year, Melia's fanbase extended to include Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson. He was present at Tallaght to watch him shine in the playoff against fellow Turks Istanbul Başakşehir – a run-out Kenny circles as being transformational for the perception of the prodigy. Melia takes it all in his stride, adamant the sole focus from his formative years around the fields of Newtownmountkennedy in Co Wicklow was a lifetime in football. Mason Melia in the Tallaght Stadium dressing room. Picture: Ryan Byrne/Inpho That he's been touted to follow Robbie Keane's path at Spurs is easily brushed off. Irish fans would be satisfied even if he develops into another Troy Parrott. 'I've grown into more of a man,' said the forward who officially reaches adulthood in September. 'I'm still only 17 but I've played over 80 games in senior football now. And I have big European nights like this to look forward to. 'That's benefitted me. I think I've always had my football head but I've grown into myself. I'm feeling more physical and ready for a bigger challenge.' Resisting the urge to retaliate amid the hostility is one of the many traits Spurs have admired. 'I've always been disciplined,' he affirms. 'I've known what I want since I was young. I finished my Junior Cert at school, sat down with my Ma and said 'this is what I want to do.' 'This is men's football really. Opponents don't go: 'Oh, he signed for them I am going to smash him.' I think everyone's the same. It's just the way the game is.' It won't be long before he steps into the Spurs slipstream that Keane, Parrott and his idol Harry Kane inhabited. The mothership are monitoring their asset from afar in the meantime, broadening his nutrition from the smoothies guzzled on daily commutes to training with his mother. 'Yeah, I think Tottenham have a plan for me,' he said about the future beyond the Saints and LOI. 'We'll take it step by step here, then see how I'm feeling in January and go from there.'
