We're in the League Cup Final!!!

[dcfcsteve]

I was thinking about the Flansiro too. Surely from Derry you could go through Donegal, Sligo and Roscommon together in some reasonable time? I agree that Tolka would be senseless though. You're not going to get a crowd there.

Longford is hardly that much easier to get to than Dublin, but is more difficult for UCD supporters to get to, and less likely to attract neutrals. The crowd there would therefore be even worse than it would at Belfield.

The League Cup Final doesn't traditionally get played at a neutral venue. Therefore, it's a fact that someone is going to have home advantage. Given that, it would make sense for both the competition and the revenues of both teams to have it in the ground that looks likely to deliver at least a 50-100% bigger crowd.

I accept that there's more to it than just atmosphere and gate receipts, but common sense does point to the Brandywell for this one. :D

[Poor Student]

Steve, I think it's fairly rare that two clubs so far apart contest a LC final. I know what you're saying about maximising the crowd but we're talking about the prospect of very close to zero away support. People are definately going to have to seek the whole day off I'd imagine. The whole situation would further tip this tie in your favour.

[GK for the Town]

Trains run from Dublin Connolly to Longford a few times during the day so it could be easier for more people to go from Dublin if it was there.
I'm not too sure about the train station in longford though. How far away is it to the ground ?

[Wiseguy]

Trains run from Dublin Connolly to Longford a few times during the day so it could be easier for more people to go from Dublin if it was there.
I'm not too sure about the train station in longford though. How far away is it to the ground ?

The station is in Town so it's 5 minutes by taxi to Flancare but it won't be played there.

[hoops1]

Thank god Longford are out
And wont get that Setanta spot!
they brought nothing to the competition last year!

[GK for the Town]

They should play it in Croke Park :p

[pineapple stu]

With a place in the Setanta Cup on offer, any arguments about where the game should be played to get an extra 1,500 people in the gate are irrelevant. There's no reason for us to play in Derry (where we have a poor record) to get 40% of 1,500 gate receipts when we can play in Belfield (where we have a decent record), get a crap gate but get into the Setanta.

Longford is far easier to get to than Derry. If there's demand, the SC can run a bus. Going to Longford would mean leaving a good hour or two later than going to Derry, which would give people time to get out of work/get homework done, etc.

Incidentally, I e-mailed the FAI and they confirmed that if we lose, we won't get the Setanta spot - it'll go to the next league team. Hardly a shock, in fairness.

[superfrank]

Thank god Longford are out
And wont get that Setanta spot!
they brought nothing to the competition last year!
They're still in the FAI, aren't they?

[dcfcsteve]

With a place in the Setanta Cup on offer, any arguments about where the game should be played to get an extra 1,500 people in the gate are irrelevant. There's no reason for us to play in Derry (where we have a poor record) to get 40% of 1,500 gate receipts when we can play in Belfield (where we have a decent record), get a crap gate but get into the Setanta.

Longford is far easier to get to than Derry. If there's demand, the SC can run a bus. Going to Longford would mean leaving a good hour or two later than going to Derry, which would give people time to get out of work/get homework done, etc.

Incidentally, I e-mailed the FAI and they confirmed that if we lose, we won't get the Setanta spot - it'll go to the next league team. Hardly a shock, in fairness.

So there's no Setanta incentive any more then.

We're therefore back to the original question of : do you want a crap crowd and atmosphere, and limited financial return for both club's efforts ? If so - hold it in Dublin or Longford. Do you want a much bigger crowd, better atmosphere, and a bigger financial return for both club's efforts ? Then hold it in Derry. Or even Finn Park !! :eek: :D

[pineapple stu]

So there's no Setanta incentive any more then.
Remind me who one-third of your losses this season were to? ;)

[fosterdollar]

I think PS is right in suggesting that if they play to their historical strengths they could be in for a much bigger windfall by qualifying for the Setanta Cup

[dcfcsteve]

Steve, I think it's fairly rare that two clubs so far apart contest a LC final. I know what you're saying about maximising the crowd but we're talking about the prospect of very close to zero away support. People are definately going to have to seek the whole day off I'd imagine. The whole situation would further tip this tie in your favour.

Not so - Derry played Limerick twice in the last decade. Both times they were a First Division club - and they were even rock bottom at the time of the 2002 final. We also played Athlone in the 99/00 season Final.

The situation for UCD fans is also reversed for Derry fans - we'd likewise have to get half days off etc. Without being rude, the lack of UCD fans is not Derry's fault and should not be used to sympathise judgements in UCD's favour. Why should the game be reduced as an event due to limited atmosphere, and both clubs make less income for their efforts, just to be nice to a club because they have limited support... ?

[dcfcsteve]

Remind me who one-third of your losses this season were to? ;)

Eh ??? What's that got to do with the LC runner's-up not qualifying for Setanta ? :confused:

[pineapple stu]

Without being rude, the lack of UCD fans is not Derry's fault and should not be used to sympathise judgements in UCD's favour. Why should the game be reduced as an event due to limited atmosphere, and both clubs make less income for their efforts, just to be nice to a club because they have limited support... ?
It shouldn't obviously. But nor should the converse argument be used either. Cup finals are about winning, not about atmosphere. To improve the latter, you don't hold a Cup final on a weekday obviously - but then, that's so obvious, the FAI never thought about it. Derry to Dublin is about 4 hours, so the sensible thing to do (if it is to be one-legged) is to play in a venue 2 hours away from both - somewhere like Longford - and kick off at 8:30 or so to give people time to get from work to the game. I don't see us accommodating youz just because there's more of yez or yez have more flags or make more noise! :)

[pineapple stu]

Eh ??? What's that got to do with the LC runner's-up not qualifying for Setanta ? :confused:
Because you said...

So there's no Setanta incentive any more then.
Which can only be the case if we lose...i.e. if you win. But we've already beaten you this season, so why not again?

[fosterdollar]

Derry to Dublin is about 4 hours, so the sensible thing to do (if it is to be one-legged) is to play in a venue 2 hours away from both - somewhere like Longford - and kick off at 8:30 or so to give people time to get from work to the game. I don't see us accommodating youz just because there's more of yez or yez have more flags or make more noise! :)

To be fair i can't see the Derry lads making Longford in two hours. Maribor's suggestion of Oriel Park ain't bad.

[pineapple stu]

Oriel suits as well. Though surely that's further from Derry?

[Schumi]

These arguments about neutral venues for the final are pointless. It'll be in either Belfield or the Brandywell. I assume it'll be a coin toss unless the clubs agree to one venue or the other. Derry obviously won't agree to Belfield as there's no benefit to them so either it'll be a toss of a coin or we'll agree to play in the Brandywell.

The only reason to agree to playing away is money so we have to weigh up whether we want higher gate receipts from playing in the Brandywell or a better chance of MUCH more money from qualifying for the Setanta Cup. IMO there's no decision to make: playing the game in Belfield is to our advantage so we shouldn't give up the chance of that. I'm sick of us always doing "what's best for the league" when no one else ever does for us.

[Krstic]

These arguments about neutral venues for the final are pointless. It'll be in either Belfield or the Brandywell. I assume it'll be a coin toss unless the clubs agree to one venue or the other. Derry obviously won't agree to Belfield as there's no benefit to them so either it'll be a toss of a coin or we'll agree to play in the Brandywell.

The only reason to agree to playing away is money so we have to weigh up whether we want higher gate receipts from playing in the Brandywell or a better chance of MUCH more money from qualifying for the Setanta Cup. IMO there's no decision to make: playing the game in Belfield is to our advantage so we shouldn't give up the chance of that. I'm sick of us always doing "what's best for the league" when no one else ever does for us.

Schumi, even though it'll be hard for me to get another day off work, as I've already got 2 off for the France game, I have to agree with your slant on the situation. :ball: :ball:

[GK for the Town]

there may also be other supporters from Dublin's other teams(aswell as other counties) that might want to go as neutral to watch. The easier it is for them, the more inclined they would be to travel.

[Aberdonian Stu]

I will concede that were it to be played in Derry it would get a bigger crowd.

But why should we care? Frankly speaking I want the game in Belfield if we win the toss because we have a better chance of winning and my priority as UCD fan is that we win things the same way it is for Derry fans that they win.

If we travel to the Brandywell where our support will be heavily outnumbered in a ground which the home side obviously know better our chances will be reduced. If we play them in Belfield we've got a good shot at a trophy, more money and a place in Setanta 2006.

Yes we'll get a bigger gate but even that benefit, if the 2,000 gate prediction by a Derry fan earlier is accurate, won't be that much of an incentive. Between transport costs and possible accommodation costs for the squad whatever benefit gained is surely whittled down considerably.

I therefore hope that our administrators have the good sense to "compete" in the coin toss to decide the venue.

[Schumi]

I therefore hope that our administrators have the good sense to "compete" in the coin toss to decide the venue.
Agree 100%. If we lose the toss, I have no problem with playing in Derry but we should give ourselves every chance of playing at home.

[fosterdollar]

Agree 100%. If we lose the toss, I have no problem with playing in Derry but we should give ourselves every chance of playing at home.
Sounds like good sense to me.

[Bald Student]

Also, given that Derry are already as good as qualified for the Setanta and are still competing on several fronts, a game on a weekday evening in Belfield could really increase the 'couldn't be bothered' attitude from Derry. This is now the biggest game of our season (unless we get to the other cup final) so we should try to give ourselves every advantage.

[pineapple stu]

This is now the biggest game of our season
Biggest game since the '84 Cup Final, I'd say. In fact, even bigger given that we were already qualified for Europe then.

[Krstic]

Also, given that Derry are already as good as qualified for the Setanta

Oh Fcuk aye, put the Blaaah on us now ya bugger ye :D

[Krstic]

what language do they speak in Derry!!??

A mixture of English, Irish and Derryspeak...................you're just too used to English living in the Pale..................way too Anglified

[Schumi]

what language do they speak in Derry!!??
You should try listening to it! :eek: :p

[CollegeTillIDie]

Oh Fcuk aye, put the Blaaah on us now ya bugger ye :D

Blaaah? In Waterford it is a Bread roll what does it mean in Derry?

[Krstic]

Blaaah? In Waterford it is a Bread roll what does it mean in Derry?

It means 'blight'.
Someone says 'Derry City are bankers for the Setanta Cup' and next thing you know we lose every game 'till the end of the season :(

[Colie]

Woohoo, woohoo. And the FAI cup aswell, come on....

[CollegeTillIDie]

... and that's not all UCD's Women took on Raheny United in tonight's
DWSL Premier League Cup semi-final in St. Anne's Park . And two goals from Sylvia Gee saw a very ropey looking College squeeze past Raheny United on a 2-1 Scoreline. So even the Girls are in a League Cup Final ;)

[Poor Student]

Any news on the venue front yet? Anyone talking to anyone from the club or anything?

[Bald Student]

Coin toss this evening.

[Poor Student]

Coin toss this evening.

Two head coin with Derry having choice of pick? :D

[CollegeTillIDie]

Any news on the venue yet lads?

[bambi]

UCD are at home in the League Cup Final, believe it or not. Tie to be held on the 20th of September. :D

[CollegeTillIDie]

UCD are at home in the League Cup Final, believe it or not. Tie to be held on the 20th of September. :D
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa:) :D

[Aberdonian Stu]

Superb!

It's not so much the home advantage I'm happy about rather than not having the away disadvantage if you catch my drift.

I recommend we get League Cup Final cigars all round (I've got a clipper). I know just the place to get them as well, Fox's on College Green.

It's also a really good opportunity to promote the club, so long as we focus more on the locality (most of those studenty types won't be around in 3 or 4 years :p )

[Poor Student]

That's surprising. First the FAI confirms a Setanta spot before we beat Shels, they then allow us to win a fair coin toss. Is the FAI in fact a fair organisation? :eek: Aberdonian Stu is correct, perfect opportunity to promote the club and the absence of away disadvantage. Hard luck to the Derry fans who have to make travel arrangements. I still expect you to bring a fair amount. We should have some interested Shels fans too clinging to hope of a Setanta Cup place through a Derry win and Pats/Rovers/Bohs fans coming to ensure they don't. :D

[Slash/ED]

Yeah if it doesn't clash with anything I'll probably be there myself.

[Poor Student]

League Cup Final date set


30th August '05

Belfield Park will host the 2005 League Cup Final after UCD won the toss for venue last night. The game will take place on Wednesday the 20th of September with a 7:45 kick-off.


It is a big boost for UCD's hopes of qualifying for the Setanta Cup, as College have already beaten Derry in Belfield this season, while they were comfortably beaten in the return in the Brandywell.

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That's from the official site but isn't that updated by Pineapple? Is this 100% official that we are at home? It's the only place I've seen it.

[Aberdonian Stu]

It was in the Indo this morning.

[Poor Student]

It was in the Indo this morning.

Excellent. :D