Setanta Cup 2014

[Acornvilla]

Dundalk well on top but lacking the quality to finish this off..

[Fester]

Dundalk well on top but lacking the quality to finish this off..

They should be coasting, had plenty of chances.

[Mr A]

And there it is. FFS keeper.

[Mr A]

Jebus Coleraine went close there!

[Acornvilla]

And there it is. FFS keeper.

He's been fairly dodgy looking all night.

[Cuyahoga]

Semi Final Draw :

Glentoran or Shamrock Rovers v Dundalk
Sligo Rovers v St. Patrick's Athletic

[Charlie Darwin]

Somebody needs to put the Irish League down. It's the only humane thing to do.

[TonyD]

Somebody needs to put the Irish League down. It's the only humane thing to do.

Indeed. I think this competitions days are numbered. Absolute stroll for Pats tonight, with lots of the first choice missing. Linfield have already given up the ghost, how long before the rest of the IL follows.

[dong]

I see Mark Quigley bagged a brace as well.
If he can keep fit he will be the player to watch again this season. Ego or no ego.
The man is pure class with a ball at his feet.

[Dodge]

I see Mark Quigley bagged a brace as well.
If he can keep fit he will be the player to watch again this season. Ego or no ego.
The man is pure class with a ball at his feet.

He was very good last night but it was the perfect game for him as Ballinamallard were pretty poor

[Briuk]

Unfortunately I think this will be the last year of this competition.
Specially after yesterday.

[Dodge]

Unfortunately I think this will be the last year of this competition.
Specially after yesterday.

Sponsors have signed for 2 more seasons

[oriel]

I think it was really arrogant of the best two sides in the IL not to compete. I didnt buy their arguments over fixture congestion, not like they are playing mid week and saturday every week, plus it was a trimmed down schedule this season.

Coleraine were decent and took it serious, cant understand how they are so low in their league, Ballinamallard just accepted the invite to join up late, cant blame them plus they were up against the League Champions, but it must be very disappointing for the IL with the efforts from Crusaders and Glentoran.

Another note to think about is, both Derry and Cork would have also been fancied to do well if they were in the competition, so there is a big gulf, and that was not helped as I said by the top 2 IL sides opting out.

[Ezeikial]

I think it was really arrogant of the best two sides in the IL not to compete.

Pragmatic rather then arrogant perhaps.

Modest chances of cup success, dramatically reduced participation money, modest prize money, difficulties getting payments from organisers, small mid week gates, on top of potential fixture congestion - not a lot of reasons left for them to take part, is there?

[oriel]

I disagree, the prize money and profile games would still have been much better for them, compared to their own league, maybe not arrogant but I don't think it was a good move for both Linfield and Cliftonville not to take part.

Travel between games in the IL is nothing compared to LOI, so it's not like they had that to consider, plus they only succeeded in devaluing their own league by not taking part.

[desaintsno.12]

Sponsors have signed for 2 more seasons

seriously ? jesus, suprised to hear that. was this pre or post Linfield pulling out ?

[Dodge]

seriously ? jesus, suprised to hear that. was this pre or post Linfield pulling out ?

Pre

http://www.setanta.com/ie/setanta-sp...rmed-for-2014/

“I am very happy that Setanta have shown their faith in this unique competition by agreeing to remain as our sponsors for a further three years. The competition has grown in stature since it began in 2005 and clubs north and south are looking forward to the ninth version starting in February,” Setanta Sports Cup Tournament Committee chairman Milo Corcoran stated.

[JC_GUFC]

To be fair to Linfield they could justifiably say that they pulled out due to sectarianism. They basically got called Orange *******s for 90 minutes against Rovers.
Cliftonville's excuse looks a bit lame when they actually played Rovers in a pre-season friendly!

[Dodge]

To be fair to Linfield they could justifiably say that they pulled out due to sectarianism. They basically got called Orange *******s for 90 minutes against Rovers.
Cliftonville's excuse looks a bit lame when they actually played Rovers in a pre-season friendly!

But Linfield didn't claim that at all, and I'm sure they've encountered worse locally too.

They pulled outt because they knew they'd no chance of winning and didn't thing the €4,500 they'd get to enter was enough. No other reason

[Ezeikial]

But Linfield didn't claim that at all, and I'm sure they've encountered worse locally too.

They pulled outt because they knew they'd no chance of winning and didn't thing the €4,500 they'd get to enter was enough. No other reason

There probably are some additional, related reasons - mainly financial. With poor gates receipts and high travel costs there remained no financial benefit if winning the competition was not possible.

Fixture congestion and possible injuries then became the straw that breaks the camels back.

Linfield specifically referenced the finances and fixture congestion issues in their statement at the time of withdrawing

Linfield, inaugural winners in 2005, said reduced prize money and scheduling of matches led to their decision.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/25307928

The organising committeee (dominated by the FAI) certainly did not endear themselves to Irish League clubs in general and Cliftonville in particular by their foot dragging over paying participation money in the past