Celtic to play Cliftonville in Champions League qualifier

The Scottish champions play the side from Northern Ireland

Neil Lennon is at the centre of celebrations after Celtic clinch the title (GETTY IMAGES)

Celtic will face Cliftonville in the second qualifying round of the Champions League.

The Hoops are set to host the Northern Irish outfit at Celtic Park on July 16 or 17.

Should they overcome the Danske Bank Premiership winners, Neil Lennon's men will need to get through two more qualifying rounds to reach the group stage.

Celtic - who lifted the trophy in 1967 - will be hoping for a repeat of last season's success in the competition.

They overcame HJK Helsinki and Helsingborgs to book their place in the group stage, where they faced Barcelona, Spartak Moscow and Benfica.

Impressive results - including a famous victory over the Catalan giants - saw them progress to the last 16, where they were eventually eliminated by Juventus.

The Scottish champion's campaign this year will begin against a side who won their own domestic league by eight points last term.

Cliftonville's European campaign last season came to an end at the first qualifying round of the Europa League at the hands of Swedish side Kalmar.

The draw in Nyon, Switzerland also saw Welsh champions The New Saints drawn against Legia Warsaw, while Irish champions Sligo Rovers take on Molde, who are managed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

PA