Shelbourne style 'best placed' to ruffle feathers in Europe - Keith Treacy

Keith Treacy believes Shelbourne's tactical approach may make them the most likely of the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division sides to ruffle a few feathers in Europe later this summer.

Derry City, St Patrick's Athletic and Shels discovered their Europa Conference League qualifying round fates after last week's draw, while Shamrock Rovers also did likewise in the Champions League.

For the second year in a row, Rovers have been drawn against Iceland's champions - Vikingur Reykjavík this time rather than Breidablik who foiled them last year - and if they advance to the second round of the Champions League, it's Czechia's Sparta Prague who will provide a daunting hurdle.

Derry City will meet FC Copenhagen who took on Manchester City in the Champions League last-16 earlier this year if they overcome Gibraltar's Bruno's Magpies in the Conference League first round.

St Patrick's Athletic don't enter the competition until the second round and their opposition will be Liechtenstein's FC Vaduz who also play in the Swiss league system.

Premier Division leaders Shelbourne, meanwhile, will mark their return to the European stage for the first time in almost 20 years against another side from Gibraltar in the shape of St Joseph's in mid-July.

And if Damien Duff's side get through that, they face two tough legs against Swiss side FC Zurich.

But it's the Dublin club's well-drilled tactical approach under their high-profile manager that could serve them well when the European qualifiers kick off next month, according to Treacy who feels they will thrive in contrast to other Irish sides who may try to play European opponents at their own more technical and expansive game.

"In particular when I think of Shamrock Rovers when they go into Europe,