Premiership

ALL TO PLAY FOR IN THE CONFERENCE LEAGUE

15 Jul 2021
football
© Stephen Hamilton/INPHO Glentoran's Conor McMenamin locks horns with Morgan Daykin of The New Saints
Northern Ireland's three Europa Conference League representatives go into tonight's second leg games all with genuine hopes of progressing to the next phase of UEFA's newest club competition.
 
Larne will once again make history when they host their first European game with the visit of Welsh side Bala Town to Inver Park (7pm).
 
Tiernan Lynch's side take a one-goal lead into tonight's clash courtesy of David McDaid's second minute winner seven days ago in what was the club's first ever appearance in European competition.
 
Should Larne achieve a positive result this evening they will go forward to face Danish side AGF Aarhus.
 
Just prior to that Glentoran will have kicked the evening off in Wales against The New Saints in Oswestry (6:15pm). The tie is evenly poised following last week's 1-1 draw at The Oval.
 
Leo Smith opened the scoring for the Welsh club with less than a quarter-of-an-hour on the clock but Jamie McDonagh bagged a late equaliser for Mick McDermott's charges.
 
The winners go forward to face Kauno Zalgiris or Europa (Gibraltar) which finished scoreless after the first leg.
 
Then, at 8pm, Coleraine face Bosnian opponents Velez Mostar at Mourneview Park due to the ongoing work at The Showgrounds.
 
The Bannsiders trail 2-1 after last week's first leg in Sarajevo. Ben Doherty had fired Coleraine in front as early as the ninth minute but a penalty in either half from Brazilian striker Brandao coupled with a red card for Lyndon Kane tipped the balance in favour of Velez.
 
Should Coleraine overturn that single goal deficit they will face famous Greek side AEK Athens in the next round.