While Larne celebrated creating history by becoming the first-ever Irish League side to qualify for the UEFA Conference League, former Premiership star Josh Daniels has helped Welsh outfit The New Saints achieve the exact same feat and is now set for a dream clash against Fiorentina tonight.

Daniels has tasted European success in the past, scoring as Glenavon defeated Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Molde, who had Erling Haaland up front, in Europa League qualifying at Mourneview Park in 2018.

He played every minute of TNS’ tremendous run to the Conference League, where they’ll face Italian giants Fiorentina – last year’s beaten finalists – at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence before further fixtures with FC Astana, Shamrock Rovers, Djurgarden, Panathinaikos and Celje.

The 28-year-old scored 16 times in 98 appearances across three seasons with Gary Hamilton’s Lurgan Blues before earning a move to League One outfit Shrewsbury Town.

placeholder image — Josh Daniels of The New Saints is challenged by Tosin Kehinde of Ferencvaros during the UEFA Champions League Second Qualifying Round 2nd leg match between The New Saints and Ferencvaros at Park Hall Stadium on July 30, 2024 in Oswestry, England. (Photo by Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Images)

Daniels has been with Welsh champions TNS since 2022 – his debut was a Champions League defeat to Linfield at Windsor Park – and lifted two consecutive league titles.

However, all of those achievements have now been topped after European progression and Daniels hopes teams from Northern Ireland and Wales qualifying becomes the norm.

"We'll be going to Florence now,” he said. “Fiorentina away is amazing.

"One of my best mates, Aaron McEneff, plays for Shamrock Rovers and we got them too and his brother Jordan is at Larne so they’ll be playing against each other.

"Rory Holden (Northern Ireland U21 international) is at TNS too and we've helped to put the club in the history books and it's nice a lot of local boys have been involved in getting their clubs into Europe.

"I hope this becomes more regular. For us now I think it opens the door and gives us belief that we can do it. It's more attainable now and Larne will feel the same. They've a great structure and Kenny Bruce has came in and did the same thing as Mike Harris here at TNS where they've a long-term plan and if someone believes in it then it can work.

"If you get things right off the pitch and get recruitment right, then why not? There are good enough players in Northern Ireland and Wales - it's within reach."

Daniels looks forward to passing memories gained this summer down through generations, reflecting on the time he scored against Ferencvaros, who ultimately qualified for the Europa League, providing an assist for Brad Young’s Champions League opener and the historic 3-0 victory in Lithuania over FK Panevezys.

"It's nice to have all the memories online and you can show kids and grandkids in the future the games we played in,” he added. “It has been amazing.

"It's an amazing experience playing in Europe and travelling...we played some really good sides with good tactics and then to experience the cultural side of it too in places like Montenegro, Budapest - it has been great.

"I've played every minute so it has been intense but you're playing against the better teams in Europe which is what you want to do."

Having watched on as Jamie Mulgrew’s stunner started Linfield’s journey to the Conference League play-offs before David Healy’s side ultimately lost out on penalties to RFS, Daniels is delighted to see his former league have representation on the continental stage.

"I was buzzing for Larne,” he added. “I know quite a few players there and it's nice to see people breaking the mould.

"Linfield have been close a couple of times to doing it - they beat us in the Champions League that year (2022) when I'd just signed and Jamie Mulgrew scored a screamer. Linfield probably should have went through that year so it's nice to see an Irish League club with local lads doing well."