FA Cup Holders Dublin Bound

FA Cup Holders Dublin Bound

For the second year running, there will be an England v Ireland showdown in the UEFA Conference League after FA Cup holders Crystal Palace were drawn to face Shelbourne in Dublin in the league phase of Europe’s third-tier competition.

The Eagles, demoted to the Conference League by UEFA because of multi-club ownership rules, will meet the League of Ireland champions, who, just last night, made history by qualifying for the main stage of a European tournament for the very first time. Shelbourne secured their place by overcoming Northern Irish champions Linfield in the play-off round.

It was a landmark evening for Irish football, as two clubs reached the group stage in the same season for the first time. Shamrock Rovers joined Shelbourne in Friday’s draw after a dramatic 2-1 aggregate win over Portugal’s Santa Clara. The Hoops became the first Irish side to qualify for European group stages in back-to-back seasons, adding to last year’s achievement of reaching the Conference League knockout rounds, which was also an Irish football first, where they narrowly lost to Molde on penalties.

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐎𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐟𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 ⚽️

Shelbourne Football Club is delighted to confirm a significant investment as part of a three year funding plan, signaling continued financial commitment to the club’s on and off field progress.… pic.twitter.com/9Udv20HE1u

— Shelbourne FC 🏆 (@shelsfc) September 2, 2025

Rovers also broke new ground by qualifying through the “non-champions route”, a first for any Irish team. Shelbourne, meanwhile, navigated the “Champions Path,” dropping out of the Champions League after defeat to Qarabag, then bowing out of the Europa League against Rijeka, who they did beat away from home before the Croatian's fought back in Dublin, eventually bouncing back to eliminate Linfield in the Conference League play-offs. Ironically, they had already knocked the Belfast side out of the Champions League qualifiers earlier in the summer.

There were emotional celebrations at Tallaght Stadium on Thursday as Rovers boss Stephen Bradley marked the victory with the ultras and his son Josh, who just last week rang the bell at Crumlin Hospital after a three-and-a-half-year battle with leukaemia.

Stephen Bradley's son Josh rang the bell today after 3 years of treatment 👏

A very tough few years for the whole family and Josh himself.

Fantastic news ❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/zAQey1HQBM

— Irish Footy Vlogs ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FitzsimonsKeith) August 19, 2025

Bradley, once a prospect in Arsenal’s academy, will now lead Rovers into their third Conference League campaign in four years. Last season’s adventure included a trip to Stamford Bridge, where they lost 5-1 to eventual winners Chelsea, though not before Markus Poom, the son of former English Premier League goalkeeper Mart Poom, gave the travelling fans a moment to cherish with a first-half equaliser.

While you're here, read all about the Shamrock Rovers teenager Arsenal have paid €2,000,000 to sign in a record-breaking transfer deal.

Having won four of the last five league titles and on course for a record-extending 22nd crown, Rovers are now seasoned European competitors and were seeded in pot two for today’s draw. For Shelbourne, however, this is the latest step in a remarkable resurgence.

Huge Clash Pending In Dublin

Founded in 1895, Shels are one of Ireland’s oldest and most storied clubs, but their journey back to the top has been long and turbulent. After a near-miss at Champions League qualification in 2004–05, financial collapse saw them demoted to the second tier in 2007. Years of instability followed until Damien Duff took charge in late 2021.

Duff transformed the club’s fortunes: reaching the FAI Cup final in his debut season, securing European qualification the following year, and then delivering a first league title in 18 years. His sudden departure earlier this summer, on the eve of a Champions League tie with Linfield, could have derailed the Reds, but assistant Joey O’Brien, the former West Ham and Ireland defender, stepped up to take his first managerial role.

This group 🫶#CPFC pic.twitter.com/yVdghWMcDT

— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) May 26, 2025

For Irish clubs, the financial windfall is as vital as the prestige. Domestic success brings modest rewards, the league champions earn just over €100,000, and while attendances, transfers, and TV audiences are booming, resources remain scarce. Virgin Media’s new broadcast deal has added visibility, but it pales in comparison to the riches enjoyed in England.

Group-stage football, by contrast, guarantees both Rovers and Shelbourne around €4 million each, before factoring in ticket sales, matchday revenues, and performance-related UEFA bonuses. Crystal Palace’s visit to Dublin is almost certain to sell out, given the Premier League's huge pulling power in Ireland, and provide a huge boost to the Shelbourne coffers, the club have been running annual losses of over €1 million. Where those games will be staged is still uncertain, with Tolka Park unlikely to meet UEFA requirements, underlining the wider infrastructure challenges that persist despite the league’s current boom.

Once dismissed by former FAI chief John Delaney as a “problem child,” the League of Ireland is fast becoming the crown jewel of Irish football. With the national team absent from a major tournament for eight years and without a World Cup appearance since 2002, the domestic game may finally be where Ireland’s footballing pride shines brightest.