Cork City could face Glasgow Rangers as League of Ireland clubs learn potential European second round opponents

League of Ireland clubs have learned their potential second round opponents in European competition should they see of their opening round opposition.

In the tie of the round, Cork City may face the winners of Rangers and St Joseph’s (GIB)/ Prishtina (KOS) tie while Dundalk will face either Qarabaq or BATE Borisov in their second-round clash, depending on the outcome of their first-round tie.  

Should the Lilywhites see off the challenge of Riga FC in their opening round tie, they will face Azerbaijani outfit Qarabaq or Albanian Champions FK Partizani.

If Vinny Perth’s side are to be knocked out of the first-round of the Champions League Qualifiers by Riga FC, they will face the losers of BATE Borisov and Piast Gliwice's respective tie.

Dundalk last faced BATE in 2016 on their way to an unprecedented journey to the Europa League Group Stages having been knocked out a year previous in 2015 in heart-breaking fashion.  

In the most notable tie of the round, Cork City, were they to progress may face Scottish giants Rangers should they get through their opening round game who face the winners of Gibraltarian’s St Joseph’s and Kosovan side Prishtina.

However, both sides need to progress from their opening round tie which have yet to be confirmed.

If Harry Kenny’s St Patrick’s Athletic were to see off the challenge of Swedish opponents IFK Norrkoping, they will face the winners of the tie between Belarusian side Dinamo Minsk and Latvian side FK Liepaja.

The Supersaints have history against Dinamo Minsk having been knocked out by them previously in 2016, their most recent European outing.

Shamrock Rovers will also face the winners of the tie between FK Kauno Zalgiris and Apollon Limassol should they see off the challenge of Norwegian side SK Brann in their opening round clash.



The Hoops have never faced either side before in European competition.