LAST UPDATE | 29 Jul 2022
ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC will play the home leg of their Europa Conference League third-round qualifying tie with CSKA Sofia at Tallaght Stadium, while Sligo Rovers have received a huge boost after Uefa confirmed they can remain in the The Showgrounds for the visit of Viking Stavanger.
The Saints’ second leg will take place at 7.45pm on 11 August, seven days after they travel to Bulgaria.
After their historic 6-5 penalty shootout win over NS Mura in Slovenia, Pat’s have had to move from their home at Richmond Park in order to meet Uefa’s Category Three stadium requirements for the next stage stage of European competition.
Sligo’s clash with Viking can, however, proceed on home turf after they cruised to a 3-0 aggregate win over Scottish outfit Motherwell.
A Sligo statement read: “The club have worked tirelessly since the final whistle last night to secure the game here in front of our home supporters and it has now been confirmed by UEFA.
“There was a possibility of having to stage the game at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin but this now means European Football will once again be back here in Sligo.
“We wish to thank UEFA for their help and especially our association, The FAI. There are a number of extra measures needed to help bring the ground up to speed but there will be no temporary stand and capacity will remain around the same as our game with Motherwell on Thursday night.
“The club will now work on putting all these measures in place ahead of the game.”
Elsewhere on Friday, Finn Harps announced the signing of former Grimsby Town goalkeeper James McKeown.
McKeown, 32, made over 500 appearances in all competitions during his 10-year spell with Grimsby.
Meanwhile, midfielder Bastien Hery has left the Ballybofey outfit to join First Division promotion hopefuls Galway United on loan for the rest of the 2022 season.
