Shamrock Rovers avoid biggest names in Europa Conference League group stage draw

Shamrock Rovers have been drawn against Belgium outfit Gent, Molde of Norway and Sweden's Djurgardens following Friday’s Europa Conference League group stage draw.

For the first time, an Irish side was not amongst the bottom seeds with Stephen Bradley’s team in Pot 3 following their 4-1 aggregate loss to Ferencváros in the Europa League play-off round.

Speaking after Thursday’s second leg in Tallaght, Bradley had said that they would be entering the group to progress and he will still hold to that ambition despite a fairly difficult draw.

Gent were in the draw courtesy of a 4-0 play-off loss to Cypriot outfit Omonoia, who were grouped with Manchester United in the Europa League draw as a result.

The Buffalos have one Belgian title to their name, back in the 2014-15 season, and they would advance from their Champions League group the following season before losing out to German side Wolfsburg in the first knock-out round.

Molde, managed by Ole Gunnar Solskjær before his move to Old Trafford, made the group stages thanks to a play-off win over Austrian side Wolfesberger and they were the team drawn from Pot 2.

They finished in last season’s Eliteserien, behind Bodø/Glimt, having topped the table in 12 of the 30 game weeks.

The final team to make the group was Swedish outfit Djurgardens who were 5-3 aggregate winners over Cyprus side APOEL in the final play-off round.

It will be their second meeting with Shamrock Rovers in European competition having defeated them 5-1 on aggregate in the 2002-03 Uefa Cup qualifying round, Stephen McGuinnes scoring the only Rovers goal of the two-legged tie at Tolka Park.

Cork City did dump them out of the UEFA Cup in the 2005-06 season on away goals.

Elsewhere, West Ham will face an old European foe