Cup semi

[pineapple stu]

Longford at home.

I think both of us are happy with that.


Edit - by which I mean both teams, not both UCD/Longford fans...

[CollegeTillIDie]

Great draw. Pete Mahon wanted a home tie and I think if you had asked him he'd have preferred this one

[Bald Student]

The STIG VI will have to get back in training.

[CollegeTillIDie]

Free the STIG VI

[CollegeTillIDie]

On a serious note the biggest ever men's club game played at the ground will be the penultimate one.

[Poor Student]

While it's the preferred draw of all the permutations it's by no means the easiest one. Longford have been in fine form but perhaps they're just begining to run out of steam. They've got a sound bunch of fans and hopefully we'll be able to give Belfield Park a good send off. Unfortunately the game will be on a Sunday and bank holiday weekend and it'll be hard to promote to students as a result.

[DmanDmythDledge]

Best possible draw.

Unfortunately the game will be on a Sunday and bank holiday weekend and it'll be hard to promote to students as a result.

And clashes with the Premiership.

[CollegeTillIDie]

Dmand

It's the first F.A.I. Cup semi-final in 23 years for UCD. That aspect of the uniqueness of this game should be emphasized. It's the biggest ''home'' game we have ever played . Last time we made the semis they were played on NEUTRAL grounds. We got Tolka for that one and beat Waterford United 1-0.

The only HOME one that comes close is the Intertoto Cup game which was in June 2000 during the Student holidays and we still managed a half decent crowd even though the entire student population were either in the US on J1 Visas , inter-railing or drinking cider in a field !

If one can't motivate oneself to go to this once in a lifetime opportunity then one is a waste of space. Isn't that what the SKYBOX was invented for ? And even if you don't have one or a DVD/Video recorder ,You can watch the Premiership highlights on Match of The Day 2 later on that night.
These semi-final pairings regardless of the outcome, set up a David V Goliath final because any pairing of UCD/Longford V Bohs/Cork City in a final is underdog V Hotsnot favourite

P.S. On that subject though it's better that it's on Sunday rather than Monday. Otherwise 2 core members of the UCD possee would be otherwise engaged getting blisters and reducing themselves to gibbering wrecks, for an excellent cause. a.k.a. the Dublin City Marathon. Guys great sponsorship opportunity... tap the crowd for spondoolicks.....

P.P.S. Oh and we'll be LIVE as Bill O'Herlihy , might say, on TV too!

[Macy]

Otherwise 2 core members of the UCD possee would be otherwise engaged getting blisters and reducing themselves to gibbering wrecks, for an excellent cause.

Sounds more like a european away trip...

Not a bad draw for us either, obviously would've preferred a home tie, but this would be the least bad of the away options.

[Angus]

So, no heated balls.............Either that or the folks doing the draw got their instructions mixed up.

Anyhow, home to Longford, let us be honest, is the best draw we could have - and the second best draw they could have.

However we have 4 points from Bohs in 2 games this year and only 1 from Longford, so nobody should assume that this is an easy path to the final.

On paper is the least difficult path but this could very easily leave us feeling sick - every chance Longford will be down by that stage and their side will be totally up for it.

Not easy at all - but not as difficult as it could have been

[Ronnie]

What sort of crowd will you get. I reckon we could have 1000 travelling - bank holiday Sunday is a great day to get a crowd going for us.

[John83]

Sounds more like a european away trip...

Not a bad draw for us either, obviously would've preferred a home tie, but this would be the least bad of the away options.

He's talking about http://stigforcfi.stigonline.com

So, no heated balls...

That or they were thinking, like Aberdonian Stu, that this guarantees a big club in the final.

Anyway, it's a good draw, though Longford have already shown they can beat us (and indeed pretty much anyone) on their day.

Any news on whether or not we'll use the Bowl for this one?

[John83]

When's the Bohs game been moved to BTW?

[DmanDmythDledge]

Dmand

It's the first F.A.I. Cup semi-final in 23 years for UCD. That aspect of the uniqueness of this game should be emphasized. It's the biggest ''home'' game we have ever played . Last time we made the semis they were played on NEUTRAL grounds. We got Tolka for that one and beat Waterford United 1-0.

The only HOME one that comes close is the Intertoto Cup game which was in June 2000 during the Student holidays and we still managed a half decent crowd even though the entire student population were either in the US on J1 Visas , inter-railing or drinking cider in a field !

If one can't motivate oneself to go to this once in a lifetime opportunity then one is a waste of space. Isn't that what the SKYBOX was invented for ? And even if you don't have one or a DVD/Video recorder ,You can watch the Premiership highlights on Match of The Day 2 later on that night.

The crowd would be higher if there was no clash with Premiership games. It's not a case of agree/disagreeing with their actions.

Anyway, it's a good draw, though Longford have already shown they can beat us (and indeed pretty much anyone) on their day.

They showed that they can beat us on our bad day. If we play our best we will win, but it won't be easy.

When's the Bohs game been moved to BTW?

Monday 22nd.

[pineapple stu]

Just to confirm this is on the Sunday at 3:15. It seems the order of the draw determined Friday/Sunday.