Irish League clubs on a Conference League collision course with familiar League of Ireland foes

Linfield and Larne learn Conference League play-off fate if they progress past third round

Larne and Linfield could be set for a huge Conference League group phase play-off against some familiar League of Ireland opposition.

The draw was made on Monday to determined who the Irish League pair would face in the money-spinning play-off tie if they make it through their third round games.

The Blues and the Invermen will take on Vikingur and Santa Clara respectively with the first legs to take place this Thursday night.

If they make it past their Faroese and Portuguese opponents they could face opponents a little closer to home in a winner-takes-all play-off.

Remarkably for the second time in a matter of weeks David Healy’s men face the prospect of taking on the current League of Ireland champions, Shelbourne, if they were to lose their Europa League third round clash with HNK Rijeka.

The Blues narrowly lost 2-1 to the Shels in the first qualifying round of the Champions League last month.

Nathan Rooney’s Larne could also be set for a north-south battle too if they are victorious against Santa Clara with Shamrock Rovers potential play-off opponents.

The current Premier Division leaders took on the Inver Park outfit in the group stages of the Conference League last season running out 4-1 winners at Windsor Park.

Rovers need to beat FC Ballkani, another side familiar to Larne, in their Conference League third round tie to set up a meeting with the Irish League outfit.

The potential meetings between the leagues has added extra spice to the potential high-pressure play-off games with the teams who progress to the group stages in line for a financial windfall.