Who's "point scoring"? It was just a reply to a post. I'm aware there's been fairly widespread condemnation since online.Quote:
Originally Posted by Shearer
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Who's "point scoring"? It was just a reply to a post. I'm aware there's been fairly widespread condemnation since online.Quote:
Originally Posted by Shearer
Someone asked if that same group of thugs are still hanging around Bray games and you had a pop off him about the Treaty game on Friday for no reason. Get over it.Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
Sports Direct are new sponsors of the men’s and women’s FAI cups for the next 3 years. Draw for the next round is on Tuesday 6th of June
https://www.fai.ie/domestic/news/fai-and-sports-direct-announce-three-year-partnership
Wonder what sort of money is involved?
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by pateen
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shearer
"There tends to be a couple of clubs at any given time who have picked up a temporary fringe of toerags"
But sure, okay, if you want to bury the head in the sand then fair enough.
Probably been said elsewhere but the 12 non-league clubs in this year's first round are:
Lucan United (7th LSL), Gorey Rangers (2nd Wexford), Avondale United (6th MSL), Bangor Celtic (6th LSL), Ringmahon Rangers (2nd MSL), St Pat's CY (4th LSL 2nd Div), Kilbarrack United (1st LSL 2nd Div), St Michael's (3rd Tipp South), Cockhill Celtic (1st USL), Skerries Town (5th LSL 2nd Div), Portlaoise (relegated to LSL 4th tier) and Rockmount (1st MSL)
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by JC_GUFC
Yea sure it’s Mike Ashley’s company. The whole business model is based on being stingy as fcuk.Quote:
Originally Posted by EatYerGreens
They knew that the FAI was seriously struggling for sponsors so they saw it as an opportunity to get a cut-price deal. FAI must be receiving terribly low offers if SD was the best they could get.
They won’t be getting out of debt any time soon with sponsors like that.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by EatYerGreens
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.
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
Jimmy was involved with LTFCQuote:
Originally Posted by eitoof
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by EatYerGreens
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.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by EatYerGreens
That was my initial thought alright.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yossarian
If my memory is correct, FAI are still paying Sports Direct 100 grand per month to pay off the debt.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
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.
He was an unused sub for the second half of the 2021 season for Treaty United.Quote:
Originally Posted by eitoof
Ah I wasn’t aware of that. Ok it makes a more sense now.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yossarian
Chris Mulhall also had a short spell with Longford Town also.
Depends what you mean by 'getting involved".Quote:
Originally Posted by JC_GUFC
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.
https://www.independent.ie/irish-new...126949563.htmlQuote:
Originally Posted by ForzaForth
Quote:
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.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by EatYerGreens
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by JC_GUFC
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.
Doubtful if that translates as 2m per year for the cup. Good business from the FAI all the same.Quote:
Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract
Draw at 12:35 today on https://youtube.com/@FAITV
Dundalk v RoversQuote:
Originally Posted by brendy_éire
Bohs v Shels
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.
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.
Add in Drogheda-Sligo and there's some tasty all-Premier ties.Quote:
Originally Posted by Calcio Jack
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.
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….
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.
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!
By beating 6th placed Dundalk who they recently beat with 10 men?Quote:
Originally Posted by Nesta99
Yes totally! Do I really need to go find a tongue in cheek emoji?Quote:
Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract
When did Sports Direct become the cup sponsors, jeez things are bad when you pay someone to sponsor yer blue ribband competition!
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
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.
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.