RTÉ have announced that they will be showing Shelbourne’s Champions League clash with Linfield live.
Shelbourne will face the Irish Premiership champions in round one of the Champions League qualifiers.
The first leg will be played on Wednesday July 9 at 7:45pm in Tolka Park and will be available to watch live on RTÉ Two and streamed on the RTÉ Player.
It will be the Auld Reds’ first Champions League campaign in 18 years as they have reclaimed the title for the first time since 2006.
But in 2006 due to financial struggles their Champions League qualifier spot was given to runners-up Derry City and Shelbourne were relegated to the First Division.
Shelbourne will be without their boss of the last three and a half seasons, Damien Duff following his resignation over the weekend.
Assistant manager Joey O’Brien took charge as interim manager in Shelbourne’s most recent fixture and is likely to take charge in two weeks time against Linfield unless a replacement is found.
His side put out a strong performance in a 2-2 draw with Waterford despite the unforeseen circumstances.
Shelbourne are not the only ones missing a crucial character for the clash as Linfield’s Chris Shields is suspended for the first leg.
Unfortunately RTÉ also announced that the second leg in Windsor Park on July 16 will not be shown.
However, BBC Sport NI will be showing both legs of the tie live and it will also be available to watch on the BBC Sport website and app.
It won’t be the first time the two sides have met as there has been a number of cross-border clashes.
Most recently for the men’s sides in 2006 when the Blues won 2-0 at Windsor Park and drew 0-0 at Tolka Park in the Setanta Sports Cup with both sides progressing from their group.
The two women’s teams have also met, playing each other in 2023 in the inaugural Women’s All-Island Cup group stages.
The sides drew 1-1 as Linfield finished bottom of the group and Shelbourne finished second, just missing out on a semi-final place.
