Is the "Romance" for the cup still there?

[Sam_Heggy]

Just want to get peoples opinions on this.

Do you still see the cup games as the fixture you "look out for" every season?

Are the league games more important?

Is the atmosphere still the same or better at your club?

For me personally the cup is always a great weekend, the chance to play non-league sides, the chance (in this seasons case) to play Premier division sides and something to take you away from the normal run of the mill league campaign.

I know a few years back the cup was massive, bigger crowds and better atmospheres but I would like to get the views of other fans on the matter.

[Danny]

seeing as pats havent won it since the 60s , i look forward to getting knocked out of the cup as early as possible so we dont have too much heart ache thinking that it could be our year....

[shep]

Cup is still a big thing to Dundalk fans anyway,although the trip to Galway on a friday is unlikely to entice many of our fans to travel.Hopefully a big team at home in the next round will draw out more than usual.

I know from talking to a couple of the players that Dundalk would love a good cup run this year.

[Dunny]

Cup is still a big thing to Dundalk fans anyway,although the trip to Galway on a friday is unlikely to entice many of our fans to travel.Hopefully a big team at home in the next round will draw out more than usual.

I know from talking to a couple of the players that Dundalk would love a good cup run this year.

Definatley.

Anyway, only a matter of time til we win our tenth one..:cool:

[Ezeikial]

I have some ambivalance about the cup.

One one hand I would love to have a repeat of the thrills of being involved in a cup final, and would especially love for my ten year old son to experience what I enjoyed in 2002 (and in the 70's and 80's) - oh happy days!

The finance that goes with a good cup run and the likely increase in support for league games would be invaluable for the club.

With a small squad, the additional risk of injuries and suspensions is a major downside.

The reality is that, while there is a relegation battle, the league is infinately more important. Cup win in 2002 followed by 7 long years in the graveyard - there is no doubt where the priorities lie!

[CarrickFan]

I'll tell you at about half 9 tomorrow night!!!!!

[Dodge]

seeing as pats havent won it since the 60s , i look forward to getting knocked out of the cup as early as possible so we dont have too much heart ache thinking that it could be our year....

Yeah we say that but deep down we're crushed every single time we lose.

Just let us win one, and then we'll leave it alone. 48 years since the last one...

[Youths4Ever]

from the point of view of a newer LOI fan the cup is a great thing. Our league cup run I know the lesser cup has done wonders for the support base in Wexford and hopefully an FAI cup run would imporve it more. Also for many teams it is there only way to compete to win a trophy in both divisions.

The romance of the cup is that any given day any team can beat anybody I know a lot of factors required but that the joy and romance of the cup and long may it countinue

[Jofspring]

seeing as pats havent won it since the 60s , i look forward to getting knocked out of the cup as early as possible so we dont have too much heart ache thinking that it could be our year....

We'll try do you a favour Friday night so ;)

[redobit]

I always look forward to Cup games. However, the League Cup, especially at the latter stages is not that far removed from the Cup and I think takes away from it a bit.

[thischarmingman]

I think the magic of the cup is still there. It obviously comes second in the list of priorities if you're challenging for the title but it's a prestigious competition and you can't beat the day of the final. I think in terms of being a football fan, the semis, the final, and to a lesser extent, the 'first' round of the cup, are all mythical days that everyone involved with the club looks forward to. The fact that you have one game with a winner and a loser guaranteed by 5:30 pm gives the whole day such a buzz and a feeling of tingling, nervous anticipation.

They're part of the magic of football- ask anyone about the history of their club and I guarantee you that while league triumphs will feature prominantly, most football fans will go most misty eyed over the save their keeper made in that penalty shoot-out in 1967, or the winning goal in 1983, or the time they put out the reigning champions against the odds in 1994. It still has the ability to create instant 'history' in a way the league can't do until the last few games of the season.

It's also a nice break from the relentless pressure of the league, (altough I think it's come at just the wrong time for us this season with us starting to build a bit of momentum!) and means you have the chance to play sides you wouldn't normally play, something that assumes even more interest when you think you have to play teams in the top flight 4 times a season. It's nice to (in our case) have the chance to play Ballymun United, or travel to Limerick.

[marinobohs]

I think the magic of the cup is still there. It obviously comes second in the list of priorities if you're challenging for the title but it's a prestigious competition and you can't beat the day of the final. nervous anticipation.

Second the above. winning the League is great but the one off day of the cup final is special. The chance of a decent crowd, the build up, the anticipation of the game, the guest singers ( maybe not) all make for a great day out. Always love the away days at grounds not usually visited in the earlier rounds.

[superfrank]

Wanderers fans always think we have a chance of winning it so there are loads of us who get excited about it. It helps when we get easy draws in the earlier rounds.

Me, I'd rather stay up.

[gspain]

Yeah we say that but deep down we're crushed every single time we lose.

Just let us win one, and then we'll leave it alone. 48 years since the last one...

At least this season you'll get the pain over with early. :D

[Hairy Bowsie]

"Romance of the cup" is a BBC coined soundbyte that was used to help revitalise a dying FA cup while they still had exclusive rights (and it worked too for a while, as witnessed by this thread).

Before that it was just the cup and over here it's no different. I don't buy into the "romance of the cup" hype at all. What was the cup like before the "romance"?

I mean thats not to completely disregard it, it's still the second most coveted prize in football on this Island and no club would turn their noses up at it but is there anything really special about it? In my opinion, no.

[blue til i die]

I think it depends on a lot though. As much as i'd love Waterford to win the cup, the league has to be out priority.

[WoodquayBoy]

As Youths4Ever said above, the cup(s) offers the only chance(s) to win some silverware, so I am a definite fan of the Cup

[BohDiddley]

Yes. :)

[Rovers1]

It must be still in Sligo. Our first sold out fans bus in a long time. And it's a 5 hour or so journey.

[dcfcsteve]

"Romance of the cup" is a BBC coined soundbyte that was used to help revitalise a dying FA cup while they still had exclusive rights (and it worked too for a while, as witnessed by this thread).

Before that it was just the cup and over here it's no different. I don't buy into the "romance of the cup" hype at all. What was the cup like before the "romance"?

I mean thats not to completely disregard it, it's still the second most coveted prize in football on this Island and no club would turn their noses up at it but is there anything really special about it? In my opinion, no.

Seconded.

There's nothing particularly 'romantic' or 'magical' about the cup. It's the second most important trophy in League of Ireland football.

The League Cup, on the other hand - now that's magical..... :D

[Ezeikial]

Right back at ya. A trip to Dundalk any day of the week is fairly low on most people's list, apart from provincial backwater clubs like say... Drogheda.

Jeez gufcfan, why do you always want to have a snipe at people?

The poster simply offered the view that Dundalks cup game against Mervue (which is obviously in Galway!) would not attract a big travelling support.

You seem to want to take that as a slight on Galwegians (how sad of you) and are moved to have an undisguised dig at Dundalk and Drogheda (how pathetic of you).

Your constant bull**** drags down the level of the posts (and yes I am guilty here) - why don't you cop yourself on?

[John83]

The League Cup, on the other hand - now that's magical..... :D
Fecking Derry and the fecking league cup... get a room already.

[The Midget Gem]

Its definately still big in Sligo. Usually drags our biggest away support. Can't remember the last time we were lucky enough to get a home draw in the cup.:( Waterford maybe, and the showgies was packed for that match.

For me it was actually a cup match i have to thank for being hooked on league of Ireland. Killester United away(replay) in Tolka park a few years ago. I was about 15ish. Everything was just electric, nothing you'd get at a league game. When the Rovers fans sang the Killester players off the park at the end it made the hair stand on the back of your neck. Fantastic. I dream for another day like that.:)

[gufcfan]

Jeez gufcfan, why do you always want to have a snipe at people?No offence was intended. It was a joke which obviously wasn't taken in the spirit it was written.

[Red&White Rover]

It's alive here anyway.

As was said, we've got our first full bus booked out for the trek down to Cork...

[seand]

I'd say it's alive and well. More so here than in England anyway If the Top4 in the LoI were getting into the Champions League I think that would take away from the cup of course, but that not going to happen until about 2017. Or later.

[thischarmingman]

If the Top4 in the LoI were getting into the Champions League I think that would take away from the cup of course, but that not going to happen until about 2017.

...sometime around teatime.

[lowroadrover]

the cup still has everything of a good romance .The hope ,excitement and expectation at the start ,then the pain when sooner or later it all ends in tears. ( except in 1983 & 1994 of course )

[ltfc_2004]

I think the Cup is still important for many fans especially if you follow a club that doesn't challenge for the league year in, year out. Its a chance of some silverware, a big day out and of getting a European adventure afterwards if you win ( not a long European adventure if yr a Longford fan !!!)

[Macy]

Seconded.

There's nothing particularly 'romantic' or 'magical' about the cup. It's the second most important trophy in League of Ireland football.

For all the criticism of importing the "romance of the cup" hype, I actually think it's the opposite way round. Some fans are importing the lack of interest in the Cup because the FA Cup is seen as less important these days, whereas there's been nothing to really diminish the FAI Cup* here - no extended European places to the league, no major hype machine surrounding the league. It's the ones downplaying the Cup that are the ones aping the Brits.

*in footballing terms anyway - the timing of the final is terrible in making it a showpiece.

[CarrickFan]

After last nites result the romance of the cup is alive and well!!!!!!

[holidaysong]

Its definately still big in Sligo. Usually drags our biggest away support. Can't remember the last time we were lucky enough to get a home draw in the cup.:( Waterford maybe, and the showgies was packed for that match.

For me it was actually a cup match i have to thank for being hooked on league of Ireland. Killester United away(replay) in Tolka park a few years ago. I was about 15ish. Everything was just electric, nothing you'd get at a league game. When the Rovers fans sang the Killester players off the park at the end it made the hair stand on the back of your neck. Fantastic. I dream for another day like that.:)

Myself and my brother went to that game as neutrals, what a game. 4-3 to Sligo after extra time if I remember correctly!

[Candystripe]

Its definately still big in Sligo. Usually drags our biggest away support. Can't remember the last time we were lucky enough to get a home draw in the cup.:( Waterford maybe, and the showgies was packed for that match.



Derry 0-0 semi three years ago.Lost the replay 5-0 on Halloween noght.

[srfc1928]

Derry 0-0 semi three years ago.Lost the replay 5-0 on Halloween noght.
Thanks for the reminder, its very good of you :(

The Waterford game youre thinking about Midget was a replay, so we were drawn away in that aswell

[tiktok]

The romance of domestic football is gone, nevermind the cup, I havent enjoyed a football game since I had the misfortune to see on a regular basis how precarious the whole bloody thing is.

[Rory H]

The attendance in The Showgrounds on Tuesday will show Sligo people still love the cup. Expecting 2000-3000

[sligoman]

The attendance in The Showgrounds on Tuesday will show Sligo people still love the cup. Expecting 2000-3000:eek:, 1,500 would be great considering it's a Tuesday night.

[Rory H]

I think it being midweek will help, with the cup you never know with us.

[Darkglasses]

The "romance" was in Wexford tonight anyway, getting a last minute meant an awful lot more than a point in the cup :D

[Keen2win]

I was going f***** mad so I suppose it's still there!!

[Dodge]

"Romance of the cup" is a BBC coined soundbyte that was used to help revitalise a dying FA cup while they still had exclusive rights (and it worked too for a while, as witnessed by this thread).

...

I mean thats not to completely disregard it, it's still the second most coveted prize in football on this Island and no club would turn their noses up at it but is there anything really special about it? In my opinion, no.

In my experience it’s the non Dublin teams who really get up for the Cup, suggesting that the GAA championship has more to do with Irish "cup fever (*groan*) than the FA Cup