Dundalk handed a decent draw in Round 2 of Europa Conference League Qualifiers

For the second time in as many days, Dundalk FC were once again involved in a European draw as the pairings for Round 2 of the Europa Conference League were made in Nyon, Switzerland earlier this afternoon.

Yesterday the Lilywhites were drawn to face FCB Magpies from Gibraltar as they make their return to continental football for the first time since 2021.

Should they get over the line in this matchup, which is set to take place in Gibraltar on Thursday, July 13th with the return leg at Oriel Park a week later, Stephen O'Donnell's troops will either find themselves making the trek to Iceland or Wales.

The Dundalk/Magpies tie has been paired with that of KA Akureyri/Connah’s Quay Nomads. Akureyri currently sit fifth in their domestic league standings, while the Nomads finished in second in the table last season, 22 points behind champions the New Saints.

Neither has much European pedigree. Akureyri last played in Europe back in 2003 in the Intertoto Cup, the then third tier of European football, where they lost on penalties to FK Sloboda Tuzla of Bosnia.

Connah's Quay are more familiar with continental football, as they are often one of the more stronger sides in the Welsh League in recent years. They have played European Qualifiers in seven of the last eight years, the exception being 2022. But they have only progressed twice, against  Stabæk of Norway in 2016 and Kilmarnock in 2019.

Overall, it was a decent draw as the likes of AGF Aarhus from Denmark and Hammarby Fotbol from Sweden were potential opponents prior to the draw. Of course, this will all be irrelevant should they not progress past the opening round.

Prize money for reaching the group stages of the Conference League equates to around €3 million, but Dundalk would need to progress through four rounds to claim that pot.

However, with a healthy coefficient of 8.500, Dundalk sit 164th in the UEFA rankings and were seeded in the first qualifying round, as well as the second round today, which is helping them avoid some of the tougher draws.

“It’s right around the corner, it’s a great time of year,” said Stephen O’Donnell, who is entering his debut European campaign as a manager. 

“When the draw is made, it becomes real. You have a target and everyone gets excited. I’ve been there as a player and it’s the best time of year, excitement playing in Europe. 

“It’s one of the huge things of coaching domestically in Ireland. You get to coach in Europe, which a lot of brilliant managers far better and far more experienced have never done in England and Scotland, so it’s exciting. But it’s not being like putting teams on a pedestal either. We’re going out to beat them, whoever we play.”