Is there any hope of an Eircom League club making it to the group stages of the Champions League any time soon? Both Shels and Bohs have made it past the first qualifying round in recent years. It would be a big boost to the local game in Ireland if a team could get that far.
If it does happen, it'll probably be down to the luck of the draw. For Eircom teams, that would mean winning in the first round (obviously), drawing a favorable mid-level second round opponent, i.e. a Swiss, Israeli or other eastern European club, and relying on either big clubs like Chelsea or Parma getting complacent or drawing a second-round giant-killer. It can be done ... after all, if I can get Bohs to the second CL group stage, surely a real-life manager can at least get them to the first group stage!
I hate to say it but there is no chance of an eircom team getting into the group stages in the near future. I'm hoping summer footy will benefit irish teams as most leagues don't start til mid - late august. This will give eircom teams an advantage as they should be at peak fitness levels by early august when the final qualifying round takes place. It would take a momentous perforamnce and a good draw.