Derry men make European history for Welsh football club

Two Derry men made history for The New Saints (TNS) as they became the first domestic Welsh side to reach European group stage. 

Rory Holden and Josh Daniels were part of the squad that qualified for the Europa Conference League group stage.

Welsh champions The New Saints have become the first Cymru Premier side to qualify for the group stage of a European competition after easing past Lithuania's FK Panevezys in the Europa Conference League play-off round.

The 16-time Welsh champions actually started their European adventure in July, beating Montenegrin side FK Decic 4-1 on aggregate in the first round of the Champions League qualifying, but were humbled 7-1 on aggregate by Hungarian champions Ferencvaros in the second round.

They then dropped into the Europa League third qualifying round but were eliminated immediately after suffering a 1-0 aggregate defeat to Moldovan club Petrocub Hincesti.

This was their third and final chance to secure European football, and they have duly taken their opportunity on what was a hugely historic night for domestic Welsh football.

The same night that Larne became the first Irish League club to make the group stage of a major European competition.

TNS have been drawn against Fiorentina (Italy), Djurgården (Sweden), Astana (Kazakhstan), Panathinaikos (Greece), Celje (Slovenia), and the League of Ireland’s Shamrock Rovers. 

The matches against Djurgården, Astana, and Panathinaikos will be played at home, while the games on the road are with Fiorentina, Celje, and Shamrock Rovers, meaning a visit to Dublin for Holden and Daniels.