{"id":574487,"date":"2026-07-29T22:35:10","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T22:35:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/574487\/"},"modified":"2026-07-29T22:35:10","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T22:35:10","slug":"thursdays-uefa-conference-league-all-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/574487\/","title":{"rendered":"Thursday’s UEFA Conference League – All you need to know"},"content":{"rendered":"

UEFA Conference League, second qualifying round, second leg<\/p>\n

Nomme Kalju v Shelbourne, (2-5 first leg), Parnu Rannastaadion, 5pm<\/p>\n

Derry City v Rijeka, (0-1 first leg), Ryan McBridge Brandywell Stadium, 6.30pm<\/p>\n

Ballkani v Bohemians (1-2 first leg), Fadil Vokrri Stadium, 7pm<\/p>\n

WATCH <\/p>\n

The Shelbourne will be streaming online at https:\/\/solidsport.com\/shelbourefc<\/p>\n

The Derry City game will be streaming online at https:\/\/derrycityplay.com\/derrycityfc<\/p>\n

The Bohemians game will be streaming online at https:\/\/play.bohemians.ie\/<\/p>\n

WEATHER<\/p>\n

Shels fans at the Parnu Rannastaadion should enjoy warm conditions tomorrow evening, with sunny spells early on before increasing cloud. Temperatures will remain comfortable, around the mid-20s with no rain.<\/p>\n

In Derry it will be mostly dry and mild evening with temperatures falling from 17\u00b0c at 6pm to around 14\u00b0c by 9pm. There is the chance of a light shower.<\/p>\n

Bohs fans will need their sun block. The weather at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium is expected to be warm and mostly clear, with temperatures forecast to be in the mid-to-high 20s<\/p>\n

SHELS SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THINGS OUT<\/p>\n

Shelbourne would appear to have done much of the hard work already after a 5-2 victory over Estonian side Nomme Kalju<\/a> at Tolka Park last week.<\/p>\n

Goals from Sean Moore, who bagged a brace, as well as Rodrigo Freitas, Ali Coote and substitute Daniel Ring ensured victory as the Dublin side registered five goals for the first time in a European tie.<\/p>\n

The only disappointment for Shelbourne were the concessions of two sloppy goals as Enrique Esono scored two for Kalju, giving the Estonians some semblance of hope.<\/p>\n

The prize of offer for the team that emerges from this tie is all but certain to be a third round qualifier with Dutch giants Ajax, who lead Serbian side Vojvodina 4-1 going into their second tie.<\/p>\n

While prospect of an eye-catching tie with Ajax is tempting, Shels will still be hoping to repeat last season’s achievement of securing group stage football. To do that, they have to avoid a heavy defeat in Estonia.<\/p>\n

Manager John Russell is still settling into his role, having recently arrived from Sligo Rovers and will take heart from the news that his side’s injury crisis is abating somewhat.<\/p>\n

Kerr McInroy came in off the bench last week having recovered from knee surgery while John Martin is close to a return to action along with Mipo Odubeko.<\/p>\n

While the job is half-done for Shels, Russell isn’t taking anything for granted. “We’re approaching the game like any other one. We want to win a match. Simple as that,” he said.<\/p>\n

“I’m only in the door and we’re trying to create habits and build connections with everyone. Last Thursday was a really good performance, obviously scoring five goals in a European tie was brilliant for the group, for their confidence.<\/p>\n

“We need to build on that and tomorrow night is an opportunity to play well again.”<\/p>\n

\"23
\nDerry need to dig deep again<\/p>\n

CANDYSTRIPES HAVE THE TOUGHEST TASK<\/p>\n

Derry are only Irish team seeking to overturn a deficit from their first leg as they welcome Rijeka to the Brandywell.<\/p>\n

Croatian international Toni Fruk’s second-half goal was enough to separate the sides<\/a> in the first leg, but the result only tells half the story of that game as the Candystripes produced an impressive away European performance.<\/p>\n

Derry produced a solid and professional first half as they nullified the Croatian’s threat, while in the final 10 minutes they slowly grew into the contest and had chances to cancel out Fruk’s 52nd minute goal.<\/p>\n

Fruk, who in currently being linked with a \u20ac11.6 million move to Ajax and Premier League newcomers Hull City, was the standout play on the pitch in the first leg. But while Derry boss Tiernan Lynch admits his side have a big job on their hands, he insists they won’t be overawed.<\/p>\n

“Toni Fruk is talking about going to Ajax for \u00a310 million, there are definite levels. However as I keep telling the players, it is 11 v 11 when you take the pitch.<\/p>\n

“You take away their time, you take away their space and you have a little more confidence in what we are doing, we have to believe in ourselves.”<\/p>\n

“The biggest obstacle you have is that the players sometimes go into the games giving a little bit too much respect. We need to take that away. In the game last week, we got stronger as the game went on.<\/p>\n

“If we can start the game like we ended the other games, we have a real chance.”<\/p>\n

Lynch has no new injury concerns and may well name the same 11 that started in the home leg.<\/p>\n

\"Ross
\nBohs celebrate their winner from the first leg<\/p>\n

BOHS HOLD A SLENDER LEAD AND NEED TO IMPROVE <\/p>\n

Bohemians are in Kosovo to take on Ballkani as they protect a narrow 2-1 lead<\/a> from their first leg.<\/p>\n

Second-half goals by Douglas James-Taylor and Ross Tierney saw Bohemians come from behind to win at Dalymount but they will have to improve on that performance if they\u2019re to progress.<\/p>\n

Trailing to a first-half penalty, Bohemians looked like they had run out of ideas about how to break down the stubborn visitors before James-Taylor levelled things up and Tierney won it for his side with a wonderful injury-time volley.<\/p>\n

The reward for winning the tie is a place in the third qualifying round, where the victors will meet the losers of the Europa League qualifier between Besiktas of Turkey and Midtjylland of Denmark.<\/p>\n

Manager Alan Reynolds wants to see an improvement on the first leg: “We have given ourselves a good platform with the win last week but we know it\u2019s a very tight lead and everyone is aware that we are up against a really good side,” he said.<\/p>\n

“They\u2019re at home, they have a lot of experience at this level so there is an expectation on them to come at us. We fully expect them to throw everything at us so we have to be prepared for that while focusing on our own gameplan as well.<\/p>\n

“We have come here with confidence too. Playing in Europe is a new experience for many of our players but we have a really solid group who have coped well so far and have grown in confidence with every game they\u2019ve played.<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s another big ask of our players tomorrow but we have prepared really well and it\u2019s a challenge they are all really looking forward to and one that we want them to embrace.”<\/p>\n

With no new injuries or suspensions, Reynolds has a full squad to choose from.<\/p>\n

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