Thursday's Europa Conference League qualifying predictions and football tips
Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Thursday's Europa Conference League matches.
![Shelbourne manager Damien Duff appeared from happy in his team's original tie against St Joseph's](/_next/image/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com%2Fprod-media-racingpost%2Fprod%2Fimages%2F169_1008%2Fcd96ee828ca1-gettyimages-2155382401.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
When to bet
Kick-offs from 4pm
Best bet
St Joseph's draw no bet
1pt 31-20 Betfair, Paddy Power
Europa Conference League predictions
Shelbourne are setting the pace in the League of Ireland Premier Division but they made hard work of winning 2-1 at home to St Joseph's in the first leg of their Europa Conference League qualifier and are far from certain to finish the job in the return leg in Gibraltar.
A successful domestic season is on the cards for Shelbourne, who are three points clear of second-placed Derry City having played one game fewer.
But they had been hoping for a decent run in the Europa Conference League and have been left in a vulnerable position after their opening exchange with St Joseph's, who were surprisingly competitive on Irish soil.
Shelbourne prevailed thanks to a first-minute Mark Coyle goal and a 58th-minute penalty from Will Jarvis, but they were drawn into a closely fought game and manager Damien Duff appeared far from happy on the sidelines.
Duff will be well aware that a tougher test is in store on an artificial surface in Gibraltar where temperatures are forecast to be in the mid-20s throughout the game.
St Joseph's will fancy their chances and they look overpriced for a second-leg success at odds-against with the draw no bet.
Another League of Ireland v Gibraltarian side Europa Conference League tie is taking place between Derry City and FCB Magpies and the Gibraltarian side hold a 2-0 advantage before the second leg at Brandywell.
Derry would expect to play much better at home – where they have won nine of 13 league games this season – but the tie could be a close-run thing with the hosts 3-4 to advance and the Magpies 11-10 to progress.
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