FAI Cup 2014

[De Town]

As for our chances against Pat's, slim to nil. I'd expect us to go down there and try to frustrate Pat's into a 0-0 draw. We can't score goals, hence our league position, but our defence is as good as anyones on their day. Expect the worst semi-final you've ever seen.

In fairness, any game involving this Harps team could be labeled the worst game you've ever seen.

[cheifo]

No-one at Harps could agrue its been a blessing to avoid a premier club thus far however the travel costs to Wexford and overnight stay in Avondale have come on top of a very expensive first div campaign with two trips to Wexford, Cobh & Waterford.

Context is everything. It would be nice to be playing the beautiful game but we don't have the resources to convince the type of creative players who cost money to come to the club.

Since the infamous premier season when we went professional there has been a titantic struggle behind the scenes to keep the show on the road. Survival has been our biggest achievement but we'll need to kick on at some stage.
In that context we'll look forward to cup-semi even if we are going to be parking the bus and hope for some good fortune!

[Candystripe]

Probably the worst possible draw for both semis attendance wise. Derry will probably only have 600 fans away and Pats support will think it's a bye!

[PartySaint]

Probably the worst possible draw for both semis attendance wise. Derry will probably only have 600 fans away and Pats support will think it's a bye!

I'm hoping there will be 2000+ at our game, depends on the Harps support as well obviously

[nigel-harps1954]

I'm hoping there will be 2000+ at our game, depends on the Harps support as well obviously


We've been given a very small allocation apparently. Asked a few officials, and all I was told was it's "very, very small". Huge interest from our end, but couldn't imagine any more than 400 or so wanting to travel. A good few Dublin based supporters too.

[Dodge]

Allocation? You can have as many tickets as you want

[desaintsno.12]

We'

We've been given a very small allocation apparently. Asked a few officials, and all I was told was it's "very, very small". Huge interest from our end, but couldn't imagine any more than 400 or so wanting to travel. A good few Dublin based supporters too.

Sorry but this is nonsense. Their is no way we are refusing to give Harps the allocation they want/need

[nigel-harps1954]

Allocation? You can have as many tickets as you want

I would have assumed that alright, but seemingly not.

http://www.finnharps.com/fhfc/?p=1113

No student tickets, and only a handful of kids tickets was all I was told. Expecting to be given a few more once the initial allocation sells out, but apparently Pat's aren't sure how much they'll be able to sell themselves, so holding on to most of the tickets.

[desaintsno.12]

I would have assumed that alright, but seemingly not.

http://www.finnharps.com/fhfc/?p=1113

No student tickets, and only a handful of kids tickets was all I was told. Expecting to be given a few more once the initial allocation sells out, but apparently Pat's aren't sure how much they'll be able to sell themselves, so holding on to most of the tickets.

Or they got as many as they requested and are tryign to drum up interest and get people through the gate for your league game. come on

[nigel-harps1954]

Sorry but this is nonsense. Their is no way we are refusing to give Harps the allocation they want/need


How sure are you of this 'nonsense', as I was just chatting to a Harps board member about it.

[Dodge]

How sure are you of this 'nonsense', as I was just chatting to a Harps board member about it.

He can what he likes. Any Harps fans who turns up on the day will get in.

[desaintsno.12]

How sure are you of this 'nonsense', as I was just chatting to a Harps board member about it.

and Board memeber said they requested X amount and got a large reduction on this and were told no more will be coming ?

If your club said they had bucket loads of tickets, dont be worrying folks, plenty for everyone.... do you think as many would go to the leahue game ?

If it was a case that you would be bringing more than say Rovers or Bohs allocation for a big league game or Shels in the cup, i would think maybe..... but you wont, not even close, so I am fairly sure that we have not changed our entire policy on away fans for a far smaller amount of harps fans

[nigel-harps1954]

I'd certainly hope you're right. Wouldn't have expected Pat's to sell out the ground anyway, but at the end of the day, just making sure I'd be able to get a ticket really.

[PartySaint]

You'll be fine, it's a smart move by Harps to get people to the game on Friday, tickets will be on sale on they day at Richmond like they are for every game we play.

[nigel-harps1954]

Forgive my innocence...it's been a long time since Harps have seen this stage of the cup.

[dundalkfc10]

Great move by Harps, get a crowd in their game this week. They have "received a small allocation of tickets" that will be on sale "inside" the ground. Not once they it say thats all they are getting

Sure Behind the goals is the away end, you can have as many as you want plus the section at end of stand

[White Horse]

I can't see there being an issue with Finn Harps allocation in Richmond. From memory Pats allocated Dundalk over 1,300 tickets for the critical league match 12 months ago.

Unless you are planning to bring more than that, you should have no problem.

[Dodge]

It was 900 for Dundalk, raised to 1,000

[Mr A]

It's a disgrace.

[Sam_Heggy]

we clearly need 50,000 tickets, sure the bogballers brought that to the All Ireland semi v Dublin so surely there'll be at least that for us travelling to play Dublin (Pats) too??

[Neish]

I'd imagine this is a tactic by our Board to try and increase the crowd at the Shels game, they did similar a few years back when we had a friendly vs Celtic, I can't remember who were were playing but they set up a ticket both just inside the ground close to where the chip van and club shop are. I say at least a couple of hundred people paid into Finn park got there ticket for the celtic game and turn and walk back out again

Myself and Nigel-Harps have been organising away bus last 2 seasons, we have almost a coach filled already and may need to put on a 2nd minibus, also talk of sending a mini bus via Donegal Town Ballyshannon route then on to Dublin as we have several from that area. I'd say there will be several hundred Harps fans at this. Early kickoff probably help us here as it gives plenty of time for folk to get back to the Hills early for work/school/college etc the next morning

[Sam_Heggy]

A few Harps folk got together to make this film remembering Harps cup win 40 years ago.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=typZL7N5N9w&feature=youtu.be

[nigel-harps1954]

Harps ended up getting 500 tickets sent up, around 300 of those sold as of last night.

[oriel]

A few Harps folk got together to make this film remembering Harps cup win 40 years ago.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=typZL7N5N9w&feature=youtu.be

Lovely video, only seeing this now, wonderfully made. Some great clips, loved seeing oriel park with the old stand behind the goal. The music and reeling clips were very good also. Classic scene at the end with one of the harps players with a fag in his mouth pre cup presentation.

[D24Saint]

Great video ,very well made with some fantastic footage , only slight criticism is the backing music during the cup final highlights is a bit unnecessary.

[Sam_Heggy]

Looking forward to Sundays match.
Harps will park the bus and, well, plan B is to get the Harps "firm" to wreck the place.
Expect plenty of negative comments on the game.
Can't wait.

[D24Saint]

Should be a good day Sunday, really looking forward to it, haven't played Harps for a good few years.If there are any thirsty harps fans looking for a pint in Inchicore before the match here is the pub goers guide to the area.There will sadly be no Football special & vodka available but there are a few decent boozers around. Sadly the great McDowells (nearest to Richmond) is no more, the alternatives are the Blacklion the start of Emmett road which is good traditional boozer with decent Guinness, next stop up emmett road is Timothy croughs, odd layout bit of the hotel bar feel to it but a €3.40 a pint not to be beaten for value, after that past the now derelict McDowells is Taveys, this is the closest to the away fans entrance under the arch but while a decent boozer it takes all of twenty people to fill it up,very popular with Pats fans so id say it will be jammed, across the road is Coffey's (avoid like the plague) , after that a bit down the hill is The Glen of Aherlow , O'Donoghues, decent boozer if not a bit of a time warp back to the seventies. Thats it enjoy your scoops if not the match.

[Mr A]

Cheers D24Saint. Hope you're not culled by the government (http://waterfordwhispersnews.com/2014/06/10/dublin-city-council-gets-go-ahead-for-junkie-cull/) before the game.

[Dodge]

Just to say I pretty much agree with all of D24's pub reviews

[nigel-harps1954]

I'd dare say, most Harps fans won't be able to look at a pint by the time we're off the bus. The nearest wall to vomit over will be more necessary.

[D24Saint]

I'd dare say, most Harps fans won't be able to look at a pint by the time we're off the bus. The nearest wall to vomit over will be more necessary.

not this one please!
2162

[bennocelt]

Sadly the great McDowells (nearest to Richmond) is no more

Really, wow thats a pity, what happened there?

[D24Saint]

Lease ran out as far as im aware and there was nobody to take it over.It has been broken into since and given bit of a thrashing so its not looking likely to re-open soon if ever.All very sad as it was my favorite boozer on match days and more like a saints community hall with drink its sadly missed.

[nigel-harps1954]

Remember being in McDowells pre-match in 2008 after a heavy night in the city centre. Twas a very welcome pint before the live game on Setanta where we ended up being beaten 4-1 if I remember correctly. Was a lovely little pub, very friendly and welcoming to away supporters.

[Charlie Darwin]

across the road is Coffey's (avoid like the plague)
Haha, popped in there after the match last Friday to pick up a few cans and got served by a 10 year old. Class.

[bennocelt]

Jesus, I must be weird but I like Coffeys!:p

[PartySaint]

Remember being in McDowells pre-match in 2008 after a heavy night in the city centre. Twas a very welcome pint before the live game on Setanta where we ended up being beaten 4-1 if I remember correctly. Was a lovely little pub, very friendly and welcoming to away supporters.

5-1, it was the same day as that epic Federer Nadal Wimbledon final.

[Longfordian]

Looking forward to Sundays match.
Harps will park the bus and, well, plan B is to get the Harps "firm" to wreck the place.
Expect plenty of negative comments on the game.
Can't wait.

Your casuals going to get in a warm up for next Sunday's rumble so Sam?

[Sam_Heggy]

Your casuals going to get in a warm up for next Sunday's rumble so Sam?

Always ready.

[Aaron]

We have sold our 200 that Rovers sent up, but are expecting a few hundred more to travel

[Charlie Darwin]

I doubt there'll be any difficulty getting tickets on the day, but you might have to send a few people over to the Rovers side. There are a few people handing out fliers in Tallaght (lovely day for it) but I wouldn't expect anything more than 3,500, heavily assisted by Derry fans.

[MeathDrog]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1923_Irish_Free_State_Cup_Final

This is a great bit of trivia here. Getting an escort to the FAI cup final from the Rah. Something else.

Also, are Alton United the only team to win the FAI Cup and not defend the trophy?

[D24Saint]

Here is a list of our previous FAI cup games v Finn Harps.

First meeting between ourselves & Harps in the cup was
1972 13th February First round, Saints 2 (Murray,Burkett) - 1 Harps (Bradley)
1974 21st April Final Saints 1 (Byrne) - 3 Harps (Ferry,Bradley x2)
1977 13th February Second round Saints 2 (Martin,Byrne) - 1 Harps (Smith)
1993 14th February First round Saints 3 (Campbell,Ryan,Dunne) - 0 Harps

[DannyInvincible]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1923_Irish_Free_State_Cup_Final

This is a great bit of trivia here. Getting an escort to the FAI cup final from the Rah. Something else.

Would the Alton United team (from the republican Falls Road in Belfast) have been under threat of attack in Dublin had there not been an armed IRA escort from the train station? It's interesting that Belfast's Falls District League (to which Alton United were party) was affiliated with the Dublin association at the time. Obviously, there were political reasons as to why the league and its clubs wouldn't or couldn't affiliate with the unionist-dominated Belfast association, but it also indicates how when the national association in Dublin (then the FAIFS and now the FAI, obviously) seceded from the IFA, the original intention was not necessarily to split and create a situation whereby two associations were governing football on the island. Rather, the FAIFS was ideally established as a new national association with the intention of replacing the IFA. It was only when the Dublin association applied for membership of FIFA that FIFA made confining its governance to the Free State a condition of entry in 1923. As a result, the Falls District League no longer fell under the jurisdiction of the FAIFS and Alton United dropped out. West Ham were another Falls club who had played in the FAIFS/FAI Cup until then.


Also, are Alton United the only team to win the FAI Cup and not defend the trophy?

Good question. Quite a lot of Irish clubs have been reformed or become defunct over the years, but I think Alton United would be the only winners not to have had the chance of defending their title. Cork United won the cup in 1947 and dissolved in February of 1948. Indeed, they immediately reformed as Cork Athletic and rejoined the league in 1948, but they presumably would have competed at the outset of the 1947-48 competition? I've had a quick look through the list of winners but don't think I can see any other possibles.

[Calcio Jack]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1923_Irish_Free_State_Cup_Final

This is a great bit of trivia here. Getting an escort to the FAI cup final from the Rah. Something else.

Also, are Alton United the only team to win the FAI Cup and not defend the trophy?

Lovely other piece of trivia is that one of the Shels players name was.... Sammy Wilson!!

[DannyInvincible]

It seems Cork United did defend their 1947 win. They made it to the semi-finals in 1948 where they lost 2-0 to Drumcondra: http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/iercuphistfull.html

Those semi-finals were played in March of 1948, so my info above appears slightly off as United must have played beyond February then. This (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cork_United_F.C.) stated they withdrew from the League of Ireland on the 13th of February (oddly specific if it is indeed incorrect), although this (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948%E2%80%9349_League_of_Ireland) states they resigned in October.

[atfconline]

Niall MacSweeney's book says they disbanded following their second Shield game on October 10th 1948.

[DannyInvincible]

Odd. I wonder where the 13th of February came from. I know it's Wiki and anyone can edit, but it seems unusually specific and why would a vandal make something like that up? I presume it must have been an innocent error.

[brendy_éire]

Just a wee reminder for the drive down; the A5 between Newbuildings and Strabane is closed on Sunday.
Southbound traffic is being diverted via Dunnamanagh, but obviously the route via Carrigans is handier.

[BonnieShels]

Should be a good day Sunday, really looking forward to it, haven't played Harps for a good few years.If there are any thirsty harps fans looking for a pint in Inchicore before the match here is the pub goers guide to the area.There will sadly be no Football special & vodka available but there are a few decent boozers around. Sadly the great McDowells (nearest to Richmond) is no more, the alternatives are the Blacklion the start of Emmett road which is good traditional boozer with decent Guinness, next stop up emmett road is Timothy croughs, odd layout bit of the hotel bar feel to it but a €3.40 a pint not to be beaten for value, after that past the now derelict McDowells is Taveys, this is the closest to the away fans entrance under the arch but while a decent boozer it takes all of twenty people to fill it up,very popular with Pats fans so id say it will be jammed, across the road is Coffey's (avoid like the plague) , after that a bit down the hill is The Glen of Aherlow , O'Donoghues, decent boozer if not a bit of a time warp back to the seventies. Thats it enjoy your scoops if not the match.

Sure at that rate send them to the Tyrconnell House... Geddit... Tyrconnell...

*gets coat*