Irish League clubs will face Gibraltarian and Slovakian opposition in next month’s Europa Conference League following today’s draw in Nyon.
Cliftonville, who finished runners-up to Linfield in the Danske Bank Premiership, have been pitted against DAC Dunajska Streda of Slovakia.
Dunajska, who have never faced Irish League opposition before, finished fourth in the Slovak Super Liga last season and qualified for Europe via their domestic play-offs.
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This will be the second time the Solitude club has faced Slovakian opposition in European competition having previously played Kosice in the Champions League in 1998.
The Reds lost the tie 13-1 on aggregate, going down 5-1 in North Belfast and 8-0 in Slovakia, a result that remains the club’s heaviest defeat in Europe.
Irish Cup winners Crusaders and Larne, who qualified for Europe through the play-offs, will both face opposition from the Gibraltar Premier Division.
The Crues have been drawn against the FCB Magpies while Larne, playing in the Europa Conference League for the second successive year, face St Joseph’s.
The Magpies finished fourth in their domestic league last year while St Joseph’s secured a third placed finish.
The Saints lost 10-0 on aggregate to Rangers in the first qualifying round of the Europa League in 2019, Alfredo Morelos scoring a hat-trick in a 6-0 win at Ibrox.
Cliftonville and Crusaders will play their first leg away from home, while Larne were drawn to play their first leg at Inver Park.
The dates for the two legs of the first qualifying round ties are on July 7 and July 14.
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