BBC to stream both legs of Blues-Shelbourne tie

BBC Sport NI has announced that it will provide live coverage of both legs of the Champions League first qualifying round tie between Linfield and Shelbourne. The matchup features the Irish Premiership champions, Linfield, and the winners of the Irish Premier Division, Shelbourne, following the recent draw for the prestigious European competition. The first leg is scheduled to take place at Tolka Park in Dublin on Wednesday, July 9, with kickoff set for 19:45 BST. The second leg will occur at Windsor Park in Belfast on July 16, also starting at 19:45. Fans of both teams will be able to watch the matches via the BBC Sport website and app, ensuring accessibility for a wide audience eager to support their clubs in this critical stage of the tournament.

The stakes are high for the teams involved, as the winner of this tie will advance to face Qarabag, a club from Azerbaijan, in the second qualifying round. Conversely, the losing team will drop into the UEFA Conference League second round, where they will compete against the defeated side from the matchup between FK Zalgiris of Lithuania and Hamrun Spartans of Malta. Shelbourne recently celebrated their first League of Ireland title in 18 years, although they are facing challenges with the resignation of their title-winning manager, Damien Duff. In contrast, Linfield, managed by David Healy, had a dominant season, finishing the league campaign with a 22-point lead. Historical context adds to the rivalry, as Linfield last faced Shelbourne in 2006 during the Setanta Cup, where they secured a 2-0 victory at Windsor Park and held Shelbourne to a goalless draw in the return match. This background sets the stage for an exciting encounter as both teams vie for advancement in European competition.