North/South Competition in the Past

North/South Competition in the Past

Text Copyright of Gary Spain 2005


The forthcoming Setanta Cup brings a North/South dimension back into domestic football. Many tournaments have come and gone leaving memories that will last a lifetime and tales of great deeds that will go on for centuries. For 20 years after the formation of the FAI in 1921 there were no official North v South tournaments but there were regular friendlies between the big Dublin and Belfast clubs. With the advent of World War II and the abandonment of international football the domestic game received a welcome boost with just such a tournament.

Many believe a 1941 charity match in aid of the Red Cross between respective Double winners Belfast Celtic and Cork United in Dublin was the catalyst that led to the Dublin and Belfast Inter City Cup being created a year later and which proved to be the first and so far the best North/South competition.


Read more at www.soccercentral.ie

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"Shamrock Rovers claimed the 1943 Cup by beating Bohemians on corners after finishing level on aggregate"

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Crazy way to win a match.

coin toss is worse. note that the coin toss is still used, albeit as only the 11th way of deciding a match

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Originally Posted by holidaysong

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"Shamrock Rovers claimed the 1943 Cup by beating Bohemians on corners after finishing level on aggregate"

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Crazy way to win a match.

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The Dublin City Cup, a competition that used to be played in by all clubs in the LoI, decided games that way. It rewarded the team that had attacked most during the game, decided a tie on the night in question and is better than penalties. A team can defend for 110 mins in a cup game hoping to bring it to penalties. This way, you had to attack.

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"Shamrock Rovers claimed the 1943 Cup by beating Bohemians on corners after finishing level on aggregate"
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That must of set the start of the trend of Rovers beating Bohs on corners :D

Great article Gary - very informative.

Do you write articles for Soccercentral etc on Irish footie regularly, or was this just a once-off ?

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Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

Great article Gary - very informative.

Do you write articles for Soccercentral etc on Irish footie regularly, or was this just a once-off ?

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Thanks for the comments.

I've always had a keen interest in the old North South cups and plan to attend as many Setanta Cup games as possible.

I actually wrote the article for Total Football - an Irish League magazine.
I've an extensive programme collection had been asked to provide copies of some of my North v South ones for use in the draw and
I had sent it along with the photocopies and it got included in the presspack hence SoccerCentral must have picked it up. They are welcome to use it.

I got an invite to the draw which I really enjoyed.

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Originally Posted by gspain

I've always had a keen interest in the old North South cups and plan to attend as many Setanta Cup games as possible.

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There may be a seat on the CCFC bus from Dublin Gary, we'd be happy to have you along.
Great article.

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Originally Posted by tiktok

There may be a seat on the CCFC bus from Dublin Gary, we'd be happy to have you along.
Great article.

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cheers much appreciated - will probably drive though as I reckon I can make Portadown without taking a half day off work if I leave at 4pm. A mate is also keen on going to a few games.

Plan on both Shels homes, both Portadown homes and Longford v Linfield and prob Glens. At least one Longford trip to Belfast although I might be caught for the opening match due to work commitments. The Cross is probably too far for either of the City games but you never know if the Ports game is a crunch one.

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Originally Posted by joeraki

That must of set the start of the trend of Rovers beating Bohs on corners :D

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:D :D :D :D

10/10

KOH

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Originally Posted by joeraki

That must of set the start of the trend of Rovers beating Bohs on corners :D

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:D :D :D

Buy that man a pint!

Dry wit, its lost on here sometimes :p