Shamrock Rovers will take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the UEFA Conference League, with the draw also pitting the reigning SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division champions against Rapid Vienna and Irish League team Larne.As is the case in the Champions League and Europa League, there are now 36 teams in Conference League, up from 32.Gone is the traditional group stage, replaced by a single league phase including all teams.The Hoops will have six league games in total: Chelsea (away), Cypriot outfit APOEL (home), Rapid Vienna (away), Welsh side The New Saints (home), Borac of Bosnia (home) and Larne (away).The top eight sides in the league qualify for the knockout stages, while the teams finishing in ninth to 24th will compete in a two-legged play-off to make the last 16.Stephen Bradley's men suffered a 6-0 aggregate loss to PAOK in the Europa League play-off but always had a guranteed slot in the Conference League as a lucrative consolation prize.Now they can prepare for a real glamour tie in London as they look to make more history and reach the knockout stages of European competition.It'll also be a seismic few months for Larne who beat Lincoln Red Imps 4-3 on aggregate to become the first Irish League club to make the group or league stages of a major European club competition ever.
They will host the Hoops at Windsor Park because their usual home, Inver Park, does not meet UEFA requirements for this stage of competition.It's a similar stroy for The New Saints (TNS) of Wales.
They are first JD Cymru Premier club to get through the qualifying stages and make the group/league of a major European competition.Rapid Vienna and Chelsea are two big guns standing in Rovers' way while Jack Byrne will have a reunion with