After Larne were handed a Champions League trip to Tre Fiori of San Marino, both Glentoran and Linfield have now discovered their Conference League first round qualifying opponents.

Glentoran are back on the European stage for the first time in three years after finishing third in the Premiership last term – that proved enough as second-placed Coleraine won the Irish Cup.

Declan Devine’s men were amongst the unseeded teams in Tuesday’s draw, which was held in Nyon, making their challenge to seal progression more difficult than their ‘Big Two’ rivals, who were seeded.

The Oval outfit have been handed a tough tie against Latvian outfit RFS, who have previously beaten Linfield and Larne in Europe.

placeholder image — Linfield and Glentoran have both discovered their European opponents. (Photo by INPHO/Jonathan Porter)

They qualified for the Europa League in 2024 and made it to the Conference League play-off last term before losing out to Hamrun Spartans.

The first leg is set to be hosted in Belfast on Thursday, July 9 before the Glens travel to Riga on Thursday, July 16.

Reflecting on their European return, owner Ali Pour told the News Letter last month: "I'm relieved.

"Of course I'm happy, but for a club of our size, Europe should be a given as far as I'm concerned, we should be in Europe every year.

"I'm not really celebrating being in Europe, I would celebrate winning in Europe - we should be winning and progressing in Europe. That's what I'm hoping for.

"There's a lot of money to be made in Europe and we need to increase revenue in Europe, you can do very well with a few good results.”

Meanwhile, Linfield have been pitted against Estonian outfit Nõmme Kalju, who were defeated by League of Ireland side St Patrick's Athletic in Conference League second round qualifying last season and currently sit second in their division.

The Blues will be on the road on Thursday, July 9 before hosting the reverse tie at Windsor Park on Thursday, July 16.

Linfield have came within touching distance of reaching the group stages of European football on a number of occasions – they were beaten in a Conference League play-off by League of Ireland champions Shelbourne last season.

Relinquishing their Gibson Cup crown to Larne will make progressing to that stage once again tricky for David Healy’s side as they’ll not be part of the Champions Path.

While Linfield are guaranteed to receive at least €325,000 even if beaten at this stage, Healy insists continental prize money doesn't go that far in the current Irish League landscape.

"With the amount of money knocking about the Irish League these days I don't think it (money earned from qualifying for European competition) is life-changing for any club," he told BBC Sport NI in May. "But a club like ours, where we're struggling for financial investment or a benefactor, we don't have that, any money that we do get, that we bring in, that we earn, is important.

"The money will help. Next year the budget is certainly going to be down on what it was two years ago, it's going to be down on last year.

"So when you go into next year we'll lose nine or 10 players out of the squad so it's about being selective, a wee bit more proactive in what we bring in."