DAMIEN DUFF is relishing Shelbourne’s Champions League derby with Linfield.
But St Pat’s will take a step into the unknown when they face Lithuanian outfit FC Hegelmann in the Conference League.
Shels drew the shortest possible trip when the League of Ireland champions were partnered with their NIFL counterparts.
On the Reds’ last appearance in the Champions League 20 years ago, they defeated Linfield’s Big Two rivals Glentoran 6-2 on aggregate.
David Healy will hope his Blues will put up a better show and Duff said: “It’s a brilliant day for everyone at the football club, especially for those who have been through the dark times.
“Players and staff watched the draw together and there is already a great buzz at the prospect of an All-Ireland derby.”
St Pat’s tie may not be quite as appealing with Jamie Lennon admitting he is unfamiliar with their Baltic opponents but says that will not be the case in three weeks’ time.
Lennon said: “We obviously don’t know too much about them, but come closer to the time, we’ll do our work on them.”
Shamrock Rovers enter the Conference League at the second round stage – the draw for which is today – as a result of Drogheda United being excluded.
The FAI insisted it flagged with Drogheda’s owners the Trivela Group that there could be a problem when it took an 80 percent stake in Danish club Silkeborg.
That was after Uefa had flagged the bringing forward of a deadline for action to be taken when two clubs with the same owner could potentially qualify for the same competition, as happened in this instance.
