Setanta cup gone?

[gufcfan]

So they made the draw with no sponsor. I think the prize money is going to be very small.

FAI type job even. "Admin" fees for the comp exceeding prizemoney. :rolleyes:

[disgruntled]

They'll pass the hat before the final so prize money undetermined :)

[dundalkfc10]

So they made the draw with no sponsor. I think the prize money is going to be very small.

They never made the draw yet!

[Mr_Parker]

http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BaWrCQUCYAAYIVn.png

[citybone]

sour grapes. Tired of getting beat. just shows that the Irish league is Inferior both in standard and ambition.

[bennocelt]

What does the article say?

[NeverFeltBetter]

That the better NI teams don't see the attraction anymore and won't participate.

[JC_GUFC]

What does the article say?

It's very difficult to read...

Here's what I've made from it.

The Setanta Sports Cup looks set for the scrap heap amid disinterest from Irish League participants.
A question mark has lurked [?] over the future of the all-Ireland tournament for some months now and, as competition organisers continue their search for a new sponsor, it was this week announced that the number of clubs involved would be slashed from 12 to eight.
However, Sunday Life understands that not all of the Danske Bank Premiership sides invited to take part will assume their place [not sure 'assume their place' is right but you get the gist] at the table - which could well prove the final nail in the coffin.
Champions Cliftonville are believed to be wavering which, in turn, last night led to an impromtu meeting of the Linfield board to consider their own involvement in a tournament of which they were inaugural champions in 2006 [last digit ineligible to me]

Turn to Page 73.


My eyesight isn't good enough to read what was written on page 73!

[JC_GUFC]

That the better NI teams don't see the attraction anymore and won't participate.

It specifically mentions the search for a sponsor so I'd say it's just down to money. They'll play if there's money for them in it.

[Charlie Darwin]

Are the Premiership teams posting such bumper attendances against the likes of Ards and Warrenpoint Town that they can turn their nose up at games against the big LOI sides?

[Dodge]

Are the Premiership teams posting such bumper attendances against the likes of Ards and Warrenpoint Town that they can turn their nose up at games against the big LOI sides?

I'd say some of them lose money on games. Pats played Cliftonville 2 years ago and there was about 350 people at the game. 3 Pats buses had a huge security operation with them etc. If clubs have to pay that bill then there's no way they recoup that through the gate

[Nesta99]

What ever about Linfield or Glentoran I dont see the reason for huge security at Cliftonville well bar the police escort to the ground? Prize money will be the decider if a sponsor is found. Then again with such a good away section a mere 3 buses of away fans would be the death knell i suppose and as for the 3G surface...Ok i'm narky after a 17 hour straight work shift:p

[Louth4sam]

and as for the 3G surface...

http://www.snappypixels.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/oh-no-you-didnt-10.jpg

[Nesta99]

Yup, is that can of worms empty just yet ha!

[KUFCMan]

Boyles Bet

Setanta Cup 2014 ~ Outright Betting, (place terms: 1/2 the first 2)
Betting ends at:
OFF Time at:
-------------------------------------------------
3 Shamrock Rovers
7-2 St Patrick's Athletic
9-2 Sligo Rovers
6 Dundalk
7 Linfield
10 Crusaders
10 Cliftonville
16 Glentoran

[Acornvilla]

http://www.linfieldfc.com/latestnews.asp?nid=11014&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Linfield pull out.

[Mr_Parker]

Cliftonville also decline.

http://www.cliftonvillefc.net/news_setanta_091213.html

[Charlie Darwin]

That's it dead then. No money for it for the LOI clubs if there's no sponsor and no travelling support.

[CityRebel]

The IFA clubs a ****ing joke. They gave out when games were held during their pre-season because the fully-fit LOI teams beat them, and now when the competition starts in our pre-season and we still hammer them they say they're too busy.

[Louth4sam]

The Welsh FA should be approached to see if their clubs would be interested otherwise this competition is dead.

[Sheridan]

Nordie sport is so relentlessly parochial I'm amazed this competition lasted as long as it did. A mis-match against a serious team from Planet Foreign was never going to compete with the the thrill of a midweek Country Antrim Shield tie at Chimney Corner.

[nigel-harps1954]

Welsh clubs would bring absolutely nothing to it. Scrap the competition. Been slowly dying for a few years anyway.

[White Horse]

I would invite the best placed NI teams, excluding the two that dropped out. If that means dropping the number LOI teams to two or three teams, so be it.

The important thing is not to let Linfield and Cliftonville kill the competition and show them that they do not dictate to everyone else.

[Pauro 76]

There's still hope. Create a cup competition for devil worshipping teams. The Satanta Cup.

[Straightstory]

It's dead, now. Dead. Dead. Dead.

[A face]

The IFA Clubs were getting spanked anyway, although its still good to play different opposition. Approach the Welsh and see what they say. After that its gone.

[dundalkfc10]

Airtricity League ‏@airtricityleag 1m
Setanta Sports have confirmed that they will continue their sponsorship of the Setanta Sports Cup until 2016.
http://tinyurl.com/odn42zw

[Charlie Darwin]

Well isn't that something. Could we invite some lower-end SPL clubs in? Would it be worth their while?

edit: just read it through. Ballinamallard and Coleraine are in. Woo and indeed hoo.

[redobit]

Nordie sport is so relentlessly parochial I'm amazed this competition lasted as long as it did. A mis-match against a serious team from Planet Foreign was never going to compete with the the thrill of a midweek Country Antrim Shield tie at Chimney Corner.

... and that right there is why there will never be a All Ireland League.

[redobit]

Linfield had no problem playing in the Setanta when they had a chance to pick up some big cheques. The withdrawal smacks of inferiority complex.

[SkStu]

Well isn't that something. Could we invite some lower-end SPL clubs in? Would it be worth their while?

that's what they should do, and approach the Welsh FA too.

[legendz]

Sure look if it's gone it's gone. Like the A Championship, it's a tough market for new competitions to try and become established. A lot of the chopping and changing of format did the competition no favours. Maybe a LoI XI could take on an IL XI home and away? On this subject, I'd like to see a LoI XI take on a ROI B team as well. During Mick McCarthy's time there was two ROI B v LoI XI games.

Getting somewhat back on topic, with the Setanta Cup gone, maybe the League cup could adopt a group format, giving teams 3 group games before the LoI season kicks into full swing.

[sadloserkid]

Getting somewhat back on topic, with the Setanta Cup gone

But it's not gone? :confused:

[AnnaghRed]

The novelty value of this competition quickly wore off, outside of Shamrock Rovers or maybe Derry City none of your teams were ever going to attract big crowds up here...though I had hoped - when it started - that it would have been a success.

[oriel]

The novelty value of this competition quickly wore off, outside of Shamrock Rovers or maybe Derry City none of your teams were ever going to attract big crowds up here...though I had hoped - when it started - that it would have been a success.

Big crowds ? A lot of Irish League PD games attract less than 1k, so that's hardly a valid point.

I was at Windsor Park in Feb 2011, Linfield v DLK, I was more shocked at the standard of the home team than the crowd of less than 1k, and we took 10 coach loads up. I think we actually finished 8th that year, and we beat every NI team that entered as we drew all of them from start to semi final stage.

I really don't understand Linfield and Cliftonville's stance on this. It's very disappointing to say the least from both.

[citybone]

The top Welsh club maybe with the two remaining northern teams an top 3 for Loi. for a season. keep the welsh and nordies apart.

[Charlie Darwin]

I really don't understand Linfield and Cliftonville's stance on this. It's very disappointing to say the least from both.
It's fairly clear they were only in it because the prize money was so disproportionate to the competition's actual worth. Now that Setanta have reduced the sponsorship money in line with how much the competition is actually worth, the IL teams are no longer willing to get hammered for little financial reward. For LOI teams, it's still worth it for the pre-season preparation and the small boost in advertising income of a freely-broadcast tournament, but IL teams don't even have that.

[disgruntled]

The fat lady clears her throat.
I much prefer the County Antrim Shield in any case :D

[avvenalaf]

Ballinamallard have accepted an invite to take part so the fat lad can keep her gob shut for another while.

[Charlie Darwin]

Ballinamallard have accepted an invite to take part so the fat lad can keep her gob shut for another while.
And Coleraine.

Do Ballinamallard still play Sligo youth players?

[AnnaghRed]

Big crowds ? A lot of Irish League PD games attract less than 1k, so that's hardly a valid point.

The point is that the competition never caught the imagination of the dwindling band of fans that still attend Irish league games...despite some encouraging results at the start for Portadown ie 3-3 v Shelbourne and 1-0 v Cork, you'd still have got a bigger attendance at Shamrock Park for a league game against Larne.

[legendz]

If the setanta cup keeps going despite the 2 opting, there's a good chance the competition will remain. Going with just 4 teams from each league and straight into quarter-finals is probably a good move. Each team will have at least one round against a team from the other league.

[Dodge]

Lost in all the hubbub yesterday was the fact that Setanta agreed to a new 3 year sponsorship deal.

Looking forward to this year's competition

[nigel-harps1954]

Do Ballinamallard still play Sligo youth players?

Rumored to be signing Ivan Sproule.

[legendz]

Lost in all the hubbub yesterday was the fact that Setanta agreed to a new 3 year sponsorship deal.

Looking forward to this year's competitionIs that a tv deal? If so, is a competition sponsor still to be found?

[outspoken]

Is that a tv deal? If so, is a competition sponsor still to be found?

No that is a title sponsorship deal. The full statement is on the Airtricity league website afaik

[colonelwest]

http://www.airtricityleague.ie/matchzone/other-competitions/setanta-cup/news/5187-setanta-sports-renew-sponsorship-of-setanta-sports-cup-until-2016


The prize fund of €73,000 will be distributed as follows:
Winners: €30,000 plus €3,000 for participating.
Runners-Up: €10,000 plus €3,000 for participating.
Other participants: €4,500 each.

Much reduced but I suppose another couple of attendance gates to add to the takings.

[NeverFeltBetter]

So, they'll invite the next highest two from the IFA right?

[Charlie Darwin]

So, they'll invite the next highest two from the IFA right?
Ballinamallard and Coleraine have already accepted.

[GCdfc]

Would the small crowds also have something to do with the scheduling of matches? Surely if they were a Friday night they would draw bigger crowds. Monday and Tuesday matches never attract that many even when they are LOI league games.