DFC | Dundalk FC to face either Celtic or Linfield if they can overcome Rosenborg

Lilywhites head to Norway for second-leg next Wednesday night

A mouth watering showdown with either Celtic or Linfield is the prize on offer for Dundalk if they can overcome Rosenborg next week.

The draw for the Third Qualifying Round of the Champions League took place in Nyon this morning (Friday) with the Lilywhites drawn against the champions of Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Stephen Kenny’s side face Rosenborg at the Lerkendal Stadium on Wednesday night with the tie evenly balanced at 1–1.

A positive result there would see Dundalk travel to Glasgow or Belfast for the first-leg on July 25th/26th with the return leg pencilled in for August 1st/2nd.

Linfield and Celtic meet this evening in the first leg of their Second Qualifying Round tie at Windsor Park. Kick-off is at 5pm.

Dundalk have played against both sides in European competition before.

In 1979, Dundalk’s 1–1 draw in the preliminary round first-leg tie with Linfield at Oriel Park was infamously marred by crowd trouble.

The second-leg took place in the Dutch town of Haarlem with Cathal Muckian hitting a brace to put Dundalk through, 3–1 on aggregate.

Jim McLaughlin’s side overcame Hibernians of Malta in the first round to set up a showdown with Celtic in the last 16.

Celtic won the first leg at Parkhead, 3–2, but away goals from Cathal Muckian and Mick Lawlor gave Dundalk real hope going into the return game.

A crowd of 17,000 crammed into Oriel Park and, with the game scoreless, Dundalk almost pulled off a huge shock but the late Tommy McConville just couldn’t divert a free kick past Bob Latchford and Celtic saw it out to go through.

Dundalk’s second-leg tie with Rosenborg kicks off at 6.15pm on Wednesday and will be broadcast on RTE.