By Mark McCadden

Copyright irishmirror

Former Ireland international Kenny Cunningham believes the change in the format of the three big European competitions has been a big winner – particularly for mid-tier teams.

Player-turned-pundit Cunningham was speaking as Premier Sports unveiled their schedule of live matches across the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.

Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne made history when they both qualified for the league phase of the Conference League. It’s the first time two Irish clubs will compete at this level in the same season.

And for Rovers it’s a fourth group stage/league phase appearance, their second in a row and third in four seasons.

Cunningham said: “I love it (the new Swiss model format). Initially, you know, I’m thinking, I’m not so sure, but within two or three games I got it. That old group format was tired.

“I just think now the eight games, it frees teams up a little bit. You’re looking at it now and thinking, we’ve got to find three wins out of eight.

“It kind of releases the teams; one defeat, two defeats, it’s not the end of the world.

“From a supporters point of view, there are eight different types of games, home and away, everything’s in, there’s a bit of buzz around every single game.

“You’ve got those mid-block tiered teams now, who I think traditionally we’re looking at in that old group form and thinking, what chance have we got here?

“But like Celtic last year they are thinking, you know, three games, we can make (the knockout phase), we can do this. It’s a huge incentive.

“Celtic were probably a great example of that last year.”

He added: “We’ve got the Irish teams as well which is great, Conference League football on Thursdays. So yeah, I’m looking forward to that.”

Rovers made it to last February’s play-off round after they finished 10th in the 36-team table, and lost out on a last-16 spot when they lost on penalties to Norwegian side Molde.

Hoops fans will get to watch their games, home and away, live on Premier Sports, as will fans of Dublin rivals Shels.

Here’s the list of live Conference League games over the first four rounds (out of six):

October 2:SHELBOURNE v Haken (8pm, Premier Sports 1), Sparta Prague v SHAMROCK ROVERS (8pm, Premier Sports 2)

October 23: Shkendija v SHELBOURNE (5.45pm, Premier Sports 1), SHAMROCK ROVERS v NK Celje (8pm, Premier Sports 2)

November 6: AEK Athens v SHAMROCK ROVERS (5.45pm, Premier Sports 1), SHELBOURNE v Drita (8pm, Premier Sports 1)

November 27: AZ Alkmaar v SHELBOURNE (5.45pm, Premier Sports 1), SHAMROCK ROVERS v Shakhtar Donetsk (8pm, Premier Sports 1)

Premier Sports has come on board as sponsor of GOAL Jersey Day, the charity’s flagship annual fundraising campaign.

The event will be held across Ireland and throughout the world on Friday October 10, and people will be asked to wear their favourite jersey or colours into school, work, training or amongst peers, and make a small donation to GOAL.

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