2023 FAI Cup [Archive] - Page 2

outspoken

31/05/2023, 8:53 AM

Wouldn't disagree with that. Their LSL season is now over and they have a number of first teamers who will probably prioritising GAA for the next few months.
1991 was their last time in the FAI Cup proper. Beat then LOI Home Farm at home before losing to a Kilkenny City team who I'm sure had a goal or two scored by Laois man, Tony Dunne.
There's a few ex LOI guys in the current team. Chris Mulhall, ex Shels and Limerick I think. Paul Cahillane ex Celtic reserves and Wexford. Jimmy Dermody, not sure on him tbh.

Jimmy was involved with LTFC

JC_GUFC

31/05/2023, 9:00 AM

If Portlaoise get drawn away to a top PD side, they could get absolutely hockeyed. There's a growing gulf in standard between the LOI and non-league teams as it is.

The timing of the 1st round is terrible for the NL teams. I'd imagine Portlaoise concentrated their efforts on the cups this year (I think they may have had a decent run in some last year too) but I do remember Shane Keegan saying a few of them play GAA too and the start and depending how their GAA season is going they might be lacking player availability at different stages.

That would be my preferred draw - a new town to visit and a likely win. Away to St Michael's wouldn't be bad either. Gorey would be a bit of a trek from Galway though.

Yossarian

31/05/2023, 9:00 AM

Sports Direct have a reputation for being tough hagglers/tight arses. So I wouldn't be surprised if they've done a deal with some sort of 'in kind' element i.e. added stuff that won't cost them anything e.g. claim that they'll help promote the cup in store etc.

Do the FAI not owe Sports Direct a fortune from an abandoned sponsorship deal during the final Delaney years? I�d imagine this deal has just knocked a small bit off that debt.

JC_GUFC

31/05/2023, 9:12 AM

Do the FAI not owe Sports Direct a fortune from an abandoned sponsorship deal during the final Delaney years? I�d imagine this deal has just knocked a small bit off that debt.

That was my initial thought alright.

ForzaForth

31/05/2023, 9:30 AM

If my memory is correct, FAI are still paying Sports Direct 100 grand per month to pay off the debt.

eitoof

31/05/2023, 10:48 AM

Mulhall would have played most with UCD (six seasons)

Did I see Niall Corbet had signed at one stage too? Ex UCD also, but currently Laois county keeper
I don't think so. He is playng outfield for Laois gaelic football team this year. Portlaoise keeper is Sean McCormack who had a short spell in Limerick but may have either played a little or not at all.

JC_GUFC

31/05/2023, 10:54 AM

Shearer

31/05/2023, 11:41 AM

I don't think so. He is playng outfield for Laois gaelic football team this year. Portlaoise keeper is Sean McCormack who had a short spell in Limerick but may have either played a little or not at all.
He was an unused sub for the second half of the 2021 season for Treaty United.

Philosophizer

31/05/2023, 1:06 PM

Do the FAI not owe Sports Direct a fortune from an abandoned sponsorship deal during the final Delaney years? I�d imagine this deal has just knocked a small bit off that debt.
Ah I wasn�t aware of that. Ok it makes a more sense now.

Martinho II

31/05/2023, 9:23 PM

Chris Mulhall also had a short spell with Longford Town also.

EatYerGreens

01/06/2023, 3:02 PM

I've just remembered that SportsDirect were also announced as the title sponsor of the Men's and Women's Leagues up North, so maybe they're seeing an opportunity in getting involved in Irish football.

Depends what you mean by 'getting involved".

There is no charity or altruism involved with Sports Direct. They're about as hard-nosed as retail gets. They will only be doing this because of what they can get out of it for themselves. Other busiensses would have a bit more of a 'doing good' angle, community-focus, sense of purpose, room for senior managers to sponsor pet projects etc etc.

2 Year Contract

01/06/2023, 3:59 PM

If my memory is correct, FAI are still paying Sports Direct 100 grand per month to pay off the debt.

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/behind-the-fai-cup-deal-that-helped-clear-65m-john-delaney-era-sponsorship-debt/a1126949563.html

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has paid off the remainder of the �6.5m debt it owed the Mike Ashley-owned Sports Direct as part of the deal for the sporting goods company to sponsor the FAI Cup.

JC_GUFC

01/06/2023, 4:23 PM

Depends what you mean by 'getting involved".

There is no charity or altruism involved with Sports Direct. They're about as hard-nosed as retail gets. They will only be doing this because of what they can get out of it for themselves. Other busiensses would have a bit more of a 'doing good' angle, community-focus, sense of purpose, room for senior managers to sponsor pet projects etc etc.

But that's kind of the point - if a company like that sees they can use Irish football as a way of generating revenue that's surely encouraging.

I've made the point, particularly around TV, that it's not necessarily about the viewing figures, it's about the advertisers that the TV channels can sell ads to. GAA and particularly rugby have a core group of business that want to be associated with those sports in this country, football doesn't have that.

EatYerGreens

01/06/2023, 4:41 PM

But that's kind of the point - if a company like that sees they can use Irish football as a way of generating revenue that's surely encouraging.

I've made the point, particularly around TV, that it's not necessarily about the viewing figures, it's about the advertisers that the TV channels can sell ads to. GAA and particularly rugby have a core group of business that want to be associated with those sports in this country, football doesn't have that.

All I'll say is ask Newcastle United supporters if Sports Direct and its owner wanting to be associated with their club was a good or bad thing.

I would accept the possibility of other companies actually wanting to help promote Irish football if they sponsored the FAI (rare or non-existent though it has been in practise). I have no real faith in Sports Direct doing so. They probably just saw an oportunity to get something at a knock-down price (which is, after all, their entire business model) due to the FAI being stuck.

It will be interesting to see if any broader aspect of the FAI's operations are involved in this sponsorship. For example, will it have any impact re the availability of Ireland shirts to retailers, for example? Will Sports Direct get any priority treatment on supply and availability? In otherwords - will people essentially need to go to an SD store online or in person if they want to be sure they can get a shirt if demand increases greatly (eg. tournament qualification) ? Will SD be able to buy them at a discounted price versus any other outlet ? If you're not familiar with what was involved with the deal Sports Direct previously had with Rangers over shirts, I'd recommend Googling it. They even took the club to court when they tried to get away from SD to Castore at the end of the contract term.

In summary, Sports Direct are no friend of football.

pateen

01/06/2023, 6:45 PM

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/behind-the-fai-cup-deal-that-helped-clear-65m-john-delaney-era-sponsorship-debt/a1126949563.html

Doubtful if that translates as 2m per year for the cup. Good business from the FAI all the same.

brendy_�ire

06/06/2023, 10:31 AM

Draw at 12:35 today on https://youtube.com/@FAITV

Calcio Jack

06/06/2023, 12:01 PM

Draw at 12:35 today on https://youtube.com/@FAITV

Dundalk v Rovers
Bohs v Shels

culloty82

06/06/2023, 12:07 PM

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fx8A-54XwAApx9s?format=png&name=small

culloty82

06/06/2023, 12:09 PM

Longfordian

06/06/2023, 12:11 PM

Home to Pats, not great. Unless they bring a big crowd which they probably won't. Longford wouldn't have much of a novelty factor.

brendy_�ire

06/06/2023, 12:13 PM

Dundalk v Rovers
Bohs v Shels

Add in Drogheda-Sligo and there's some tasty all-Premier ties.

Athlone at home is spot on, though would have like an away to somewhere out of the ordinary.

A couple of weeks ago, you might have thought Treaty-Cork could be interesting, but with Cork's form, it's unlikely.

joey B

06/06/2023, 12:26 PM

Ourselves away to Kilbarrack is an obvious �upset � tie,although it wouldn�t surprise anyone if we lost�
Cockhill will fancy themselves at home to Bray aswell�.

cl�irseach

06/06/2023, 12:27 PM

Are St Michaels AFC, or Kilbarrack United, likely to hold their games at their usual home grounds?

I'm no expert but Kilbarrack seems unlikely, and I am not familiar with St Michaels' setup. Cockhill would be well able to host, but always have the option of Maginn if there was a lot of interest.

Nesta99

06/06/2023, 1:00 PM

Fixtures there that would befitting of later rounds. Home draw is always of 1st importance imo, to have any hopes of a cup run you usually will have to beat a big fish so if Rovers do the double they will have done it the hard way now!

2 Year Contract

06/06/2023, 1:23 PM

Nesta99

06/06/2023, 1:35 PM

By beating 6th placed Dundalk who they recently beat with 10 men?

Yes totally! Do I really need to go find a tongue in cheek emoji?

When did Sports Direct become the cup sponsors, jeez things are bad when you pay someone to sponsor yer blue ribband competition!

sbgawa

06/06/2023, 1:56 PM

No beyond the bounds of possibilities that Rovers and Bohs coul be out in the first round.....been a long time since 4th in the league didnt get the last Euro spot.
Long way to go

placid casual

06/06/2023, 1:59 PM

Shels could be a dark horse for the cup.
They could nill all their way to the final and bring it to penos.
Hopefully Rovers will have too much for dundalk on their own patch.

Jack B

06/06/2023, 3:06 PM

I was pleased with drawing a First Division side last season and it didn't exactly go well, but overall the whole round is good for us on paper.

EatYerGreens

06/06/2023, 3:14 PM

That's a surprisingly good first round draw IMO. A few all-Premier fixtures incuding a couple of tasty ones to whet the appetite. A few real potential banana skins too. And then a couple fo all non-league draws to keep the romance going into the next round. All-in-all this has a lot more going for it than most first-rouund-proper draws, which tend to be fairly predictable affairs.

EatYerGreens

06/06/2023, 3:17 PM

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fx8A-54XwAApx9s?format=png&name=small

What weekend are the matches being played? You'd think common sense would tell them to add to that to their wee list of all the games.

thebronze14

06/06/2023, 3:42 PM

Really wanted to avoid a non league team away. I would be going into that game with zero confidence. We have struggled and indeed lost to non league teams with much better squads

legendz

06/06/2023, 3:47 PM

Probably the worst possible draw for Kerry - at least with a Premier club, there would have been a novelty to the tie, and with Ringmahon a strong MSL team, it would hardly even be an upset if they did win.
Ringmahon drew 3-3 with Treaty in the Munster Senior Cup, losing 3-4 after extra time.

Fixtures there that would befitting of later rounds. Home draw is always of 1st importance imo, to have any hopes of a cup run you usually will have to beat a big fish so if Rovers do the double they will have done it the hard way now!
The FAI Cup final has been getting some good crowds in recent years. This is influenced by who makes the final. Would it be unfair to seed FAI Cup draws based on league placing from the previous year?

What weekend are the matches being played? You'd think common sense would tell them to add to that to their wee list of all the games.
The FAI Cup first round is on the weekend of July 21/22/23.

EatYerGreens

06/06/2023, 4:05 PM

The FAI Cup first round is on the weekend of July 21/22/23.

So the Dundalk/Rovers, Derry/Athlone and Longford/Pats games are likely to be on Sunday 23rd July, due to European gammes on Thursday 20th? Or will Rovers be in Europe on the Tuesday, and Dundalk on a bye for that round - so that fixture can go ahead on the Friday as usual?

If Cockhill and Kilbarrack have any sense they'll ensure their games aren't scheduled to clash with the Derry and Bohs ones.

Nesta99

06/06/2023, 4:22 PM

Ringmahon drew 3-3 with Treaty in the Munster Senior Cup, losing 3-4 after extra time.

The FAI Cup final has been getting some good crowds in recent years. This is influenced by who makes the final. Would it be unfair to seed FAI Cup draws based on league placing from the previous year?

The FAI Cup first round is on the weekend of July 21/22/23.

Im a traditionalist so open draw every time! Too contrived and GAA/UEFA like to link league and cup competitions or seed a cup draw. I suppose seedings could improve the chances of non-league/1st division clubs getting a marquee draw but it also messes with the chance of progression by meeting clubs of a similar level.

oriel

06/06/2023, 4:26 PM

legendz

06/06/2023, 4:44 PM

Too contrived and GAA/UEFA like to link league and cup competitions or seed a cup draw. Probably is GAA or UEFA like alright. The support for the traditional open draw is understandable. Missing out on some potentially cracking quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals though. Some of which would be the best LoI promotion activity.

pineapple stu

06/06/2023, 6:00 PM

Add in Drogheda-Sligo and there's some tasty all-Premier ties.
Really opens the draw up already in fairness. Three Premier teams gone in the opening round at least. We could obviously very well lose to Cobh - though we've a good home record against them - but there'll be some smaller clubs in the quarters which is good

Shinkicker

06/06/2023, 6:43 PM

Three premier divisi�n Clubs guaranteed to go out and one or two tricky games where PD clubs could fall foul. Curious to see what kind of team rovers put out v Dundalk with the league being tighter and Europe coming up.

TonyD

06/06/2023, 9:37 PM

Rovers playing Europe 18/19/20 July, Dundalk do not have a bye (but are seeded 2 rounds) and will be playing ECL first round second leg on 20/07, so I`d imagine the FAI Cup game will be 5pm on Sun 23/07.

Can also see Derry/Athlone and Longford/Pats also moving to Sundays as both in bold will be playing ECL also on 20/07.

For any of the teams coming back from an away euro game its obviously not ideal.

Pats were caught out by this last year, so hopefully there�s no repeat this time. I�d love another cup final. The last one at the Aviva was a great occasion. Felt like proper big time football.

oriel

07/06/2023, 11:06 AM

Plus remember folks, no replays again, all games to be decided on the day.

pineapple stu

07/06/2023, 11:20 AM

JC_GUFC

07/06/2023, 11:20 AM

Plus remember folks, no replays again, all games to be decided on the day.

Am I right in thinking that there are replays ONLY in the QF and SF?

I don't know how I feel about scrapping the replays - obviously it makes sense for the clubs in Europe. With many non-league clubs unable to host games anyway it's hardly any use for them to "earn" a replay. Like I doubt Kilbarrack would welcome a midweek trip to Finn Harps in the event of a draw. Replays can add to the epic nature of a tie though.

JC_GUFC

07/06/2023, 11:22 AM

UCD v Cobh has never been played in the FAI Cup btw.

Don't know if there's any other first-time ties involving league teams?

Wexford and Kerry the only current league teams we've never played in the FAI Cup now. Avoided Shels until two years ago.

Funnily enough Wexford and Kerry are the two league teams we've never played in the cup. We have played at Ferrycarrig Park in the cup though as we've twice been drawn against North End United, once at home and once away.

This will be our 19th tie against a non-league club. We have won 17 of the previous 18 (which is probably better than nearly every other club I'm guessing) - only losing to Cobh Ramblers in 1981.

pineapple stu

07/06/2023, 11:27 AM

This will be our 19th tie against a non-league club. We have won 17 of the previous 18 (which is probably better than nearly every other club I'm guessing) - only losing to Cobh Ramblers in 1981.
We were unbeaten until losing to Sheriff in 2015, a month before beating Dudelange in Europe. Our record is almost identical so - 18 wins from 19 ties, including two replays and one extra time win.

Is it Pat's the only LoI club never to have lost to a non-league side in the Cup, bar the obvious Kerry? Possibly Wexford too actually?

JC_GUFC

07/06/2023, 11:35 AM

We were unbeaten until losing to Sheriff in 2015, a month before beating Dudelange in Europe. Our record is almost identical so - 18 wins from 19 ties, including two replays and one extra time win.

Is it Pat's the only LoI club never to have lost to a non-league side in the Cup, bar the obvious Kerry? Possibly Wexford too actually?

Wexford lost to Crumlin in 2017.

We have been taken to 2 replays against non-league clubs and had a penalty shoot-out win over Killester, so if we beat Bangor in normal time our records will be identical apart from an Extra-Time win instead of a Shootout win!

That does ring a bell about St Pat's alright.

yurt

07/06/2023, 11:35 AM

I actually do think the FAI needs to look at reconfiguring where the best clubs enter into the cup.

Reckon even just letting the 4 European teams into the last 16 would help a lot (as well as helping with their fixture congestion). The 16 other LOI teams + 8 junior teams in an open draw can make up the other 12.

There's very little point having so many junior clubs have the opportunity of playing a club like Shamrock Rovers or Derry.
Too many weak teams making it to semi finals and diluting the big occasions imo, I know there a romance element and fair play to Wexford for their run last year.

Might be a bit of a crazy suggestion but would think letting the LOI underage only entities into round 1 could be interesting. Klub Kildare, CK United, etc. They can't be too much worse than the junior clubs around the country and at least it's in the middle of their season.

Shearer

07/06/2023, 11:51 AM

fair play to Wexford for their run last year.
It was Treaty that got to the Semi final! :D

JC_GUFC

07/06/2023, 11:54 AM

Would it be unfair to seed FAI Cup draws based on league placing from the previous year?

No offence but this is a pretty terrible idea I reckon.

Of the last 10 finals (i.e. 20 finalists) six have been champions, seven have been runners-up, three finished third, one finished 5th, one 7th and twice the 8th placed finisher reached the cup final (that was 10 and 9 years ago!)

In all those finals the winners have been a team that finished in the top 4, so the last time 4th placed didn't end up qualifying for Europe was when Derry won the cup in 2012 (they finished 5th) had they lost that final to St Pat's, 4th placed Shamrock Rovers would have qualified.

In summary the better teams don't need any help at all to get further!