Call for relaunch of connacht senior cup

**historynut** · 17/03/2011, 2:30 PM

Aware have raised this previously.
Have just viewed the video in the Leinster Cup Thread Crettyard v Shels showing probably a decent crowd for Crettyard.
As there are now 4 senior clubs in Connacht (Sligo, Galway, Mervue & Salthill) plus one A league level team Castlebar (though now returned to junior), with a plausible quaifying system for junior teams to make say 16 teams is there any reason why a Connacht Senior Cup could not be relaunched ?
Believe previously one argument was time, but time is found for the Leinster & Munster Senior Cups, and following their examples use it as an early season tournement.
I would take it one step further and extend invites to the Ulster Province teams and Longford & Athlone. This has historical precedence as Killybegs, Longford and Athlone appeared in Connacht Junior Cup finals in the 1930's, and Athlone & Longford teams participated in the now defunct Connacht Senior league.
This would give a total of 9 senior sides (aforementioned 4 + Derry, Finn Harps, Monaghan, Athlone & Longford) plus your 2 rated A teams of Castlebar & Fanad.
A total of 11 senior/A level clubs requiring a system for qualifying junior teams to be either whittled down to 5 or or finding 21 quaifying teams.
For Junior clubs to quailfy either win their County League or reach semi finals or quarter finals of the Previous seasons Connacht Junior Cup. That itself would also surely raise the profile of Connacht Junior, clubs knowing a good run could be rewarded with a draw against a big gun the folowing season.
The county leagues gives champions from Galway, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo & Leitrim gives 4 teams and if the invite is extended to the Ulster teams another 4 could be drawn from the champions of Ulster Senior League, Donegal & Inishowen Leagues and the best junior team from Cavan/Monaghan, giving a total of 8 champion quaifyers add them to the 8 quarter finalists of the Connacht Junior Cup gives a potentially maximum of 16 qualifiers, as some league champions may also have a good cup run and thus there could be an overlap.
The actual number of qualifiers enter qualifying rounds to whittle down to 5 (or 7 depending where A listed teams enter, obviously byes may be required), before entry of senior sides.
A stipulation could be made that where a junior club is drawn against a senior club then it is played at the Junior club and not the senior club, as surely for example Westport or Athenry at home to Sligo, Galway or Derry would draw a bigger crowd than if a played at the senior club. Also as an incentive to junior clubs to reach the Senior Cup semi-final would give automatic qualifacation for the next seasons cup.
Using the old adage of success breeds success, winning the Connacht Cup could lead to a stepping stone to other things, also some senior clubs without success for a while may have chance of puting trophies in the cabinet.
An additional benefit for the junior clubs of Connacht is the experience of playing possibly on regular basis in the Connacht Senior Cup against senior clubs would put them in good sted for better experience in the national FAI Junior Cup.

**gufc2000** · 17/03/2011, 2:55 PM

Salthill beat Ballina in the Connacht Cup final last year AFAIK.

Galway Utd beat Mervue in the 2008 final

**Mr A** · 17/03/2011, 5:08 PM

Wouldn't be arsed in seeing Harps in such a competition. Would be more interested in seeing the Irish News Cup revived or the North West Cup being extended to LOI sides.

**historynut** · 17/03/2011, 6:21 PM

Done some googling.
2007-08 Galway United 2-0 Mervue United
2008-09 Westport United 2-1 Athenry
2009-10 Salthill Devon 7-0 Ballina Town

**historynut** · 17/03/2011, 6:27 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

Wouldn't be arsed in seeing Harps in such a competition. Would be more interested in seeing the Irish News Cup revived or the North West Cup being extended to LOI sides.

Valid point MR A, - Yourseves from Ballybofey, Derry, Fanad and possibly Letterkenny thrown into the miix with Institute, Coleraine, Limavady, Moyola Park, Tobermore, Ballinamallard , Dergview to mention some with junior qualifyers could be a good cup.

Has there ever been a Ulster Cup for the likes of Finns, Derry & Monaghan ?

**Mr A** · 17/03/2011, 6:54 PM

Originally Posted by historynut

Valid point MR A, - Yourseves from Ballybofey, Derry, Fanad and possibly Letterkenny thrown into the miix with Institute, Coleraine, Limavady, Moyola Park, Tobermore, Ballinamallard , Dergview to mention some with junior qualifyers could be a good cup.

Has there ever been a Ulster Cup for the likes of Finns, Derry & Monaghan ?

Not that I'm aware of. Although Harps and Derry did used to compete for the Ulster Tyre cup, and this year the JJ Reid Cup.

And please don't call us Finns

**Dodge** · 17/03/2011, 7:17 PM

What competition used to decide the Ulster team that played in the old league Cup Groups? Was that the Ulster Senior League Mr A? Did Finns reserves play in it?

**Mr A** · 17/03/2011, 7:23 PM

Ulster Senior League yeah. Harps have had reserves and sometimes youths sides in that league but not currently. I think Derry's reserves play in it currently.

**sligoman** · 17/03/2011, 11:29 PM

Would have no interest in this either.

**Mr Maroon** · 18/03/2011, 1:18 AM

It'd be a waste of time.

**bullit** · 18/03/2011, 1:44 AM

Dundalk are interested

**Nesta99** · 18/03/2011, 9:09 AM

Aye we'll take anything - Connacht Senior Cup, Gauranteed trophy every year!! Mr A 'Finns' or Fun Herps....;p

**nigel-harps1954** · 19/03/2011, 5:09 PM

Call us Fine Herpes for all I care long as we don't end up in a pointless competition.

**Sam_Heggy** · 20/03/2011, 8:55 PM

There is something really fishy about our inclusion in this thread.

**Dodge** · 21/03/2011, 8:51 AM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Call us Fine Herpes for all I care long as we don't end up in a pointless competition.

You'd think you'd be used to it playing in the first division

**historynut** · 22/03/2011, 12:49 PM

Whether Finn Harps, Derry or Monaghan were to compete is conjecture, of course belonging to the province of Ulster, there's nothing to stop you having your own Ulster Cup with a few Intermediate/Junior sides (eg Fanad, Letterkenny, Clones, Cavan) thrown into the mix. The only reason for the suggestion of the inclusion , would be the more senior sides involved would surely give it more credence.

I regret saying this but occasionally you have to look within for stability and strength, why cannot a combined Connacht/Ulster or independent Connacht and Ulster Cups be treated with the same prestige as the Leinster & Munster Cups. Failure to do so and treat them as mickey-mouse cups, could be reflected as Connacht being looked on as a mickey-mouse province. It may be and always has been the poor relation in rugby and have there not been moves in the past to downgrade the provincial xv ? Personally I belive irsh rugby (and by the way belated congrats for a fine victory over the Saxon inbreds on sat) would be worse off without Connacht.

By promoting a provincial cup jointly or independently for the West and North West surely help breed success. Whilst Derry & Sligo do have the potential to and should be knocking around for honours. Galway & Finn Harps (note I heeded the request !!) have their cycles of some success every blue moon, whilst Monaghan (apart from last season) normally dont get a whiff of the church to be even classed as the proverbial bridesmaid. Indications already this season is that Mervue may well not be in the bottom 2, whilst Salthill may require at least another season of adjustment before they climb away from the bottom rung.

But by providing a cup with a status as provincial cup that it should deserve would give an opportunity of success to be tasted, and once tasted would wet the appetite for further success in other competitions. The inclusion of select junior/intermediate clubs would also allow them experience of playing against senior opposition that would surely benefit them and increase the possibility of further success at their own relevant National Cup being FAI Intermediate or Junior.