that's what they should do, and approach the Welsh FA too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
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that's what they should do, and approach the Welsh FA too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Sure look if it's gone it's gone. Like the A Championship, it's a tough market for new competitions to try and become established. A lot of the chopping and changing of format did the competition no favours. Maybe a LoI XI could take on an IL XI home and away? On this subject, I'd like to see a LoI XI take on a ROI B team as well. During Mick McCarthy's time there was two ROI B v LoI XI games.
Getting somewhat back on topic, with the Setanta Cup gone, maybe the League cup could adopt a group format, giving teams 3 group games before the LoI season kicks into full swing.
But it's not gone? :confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by legendz
The novelty value of this competition quickly wore off, outside of Shamrock Rovers or maybe Derry City none of your teams were ever going to attract big crowds up here...though I had hoped - when it started - that it would have been a success.
Big crowds ? A lot of Irish League PD games attract less than 1k, so that's hardly a valid point.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnnaghRed
I was at Windsor Park in Feb 2011, Linfield v DLK, I was more shocked at the standard of the home team than the crowd of less than 1k, and we took 10 coach loads up. I think we actually finished 8th that year, and we beat every NI team that entered as we drew all of them from start to semi final stage.
I really don't understand Linfield and Cliftonville's stance on this. It's very disappointing to say the least from both.
The top Welsh club maybe with the two remaining northern teams an top 3 for Loi. for a season. keep the welsh and nordies apart.
It's fairly clear they were only in it because the prize money was so disproportionate to the competition's actual worth. Now that Setanta have reduced the sponsorship money in line with how much the competition is actually worth, the IL teams are no longer willing to get hammered for little financial reward. For LOI teams, it's still worth it for the pre-season preparation and the small boost in advertising income of a freely-broadcast tournament, but IL teams don't even have that.Quote:
Originally Posted by oriel
The fat lady clears her throat.
I much prefer the County Antrim Shield in any case :D
Ballinamallard have accepted an invite to take part so the fat lad can keep her gob shut for another while.
And Coleraine.Quote:
Originally Posted by avvenalaf
Do Ballinamallard still play Sligo youth players?
The point is that the competition never caught the imagination of the dwindling band of fans that still attend Irish league games...despite some encouraging results at the start for Portadown ie 3-3 v Shelbourne and 1-0 v Cork, you'd still have got a bigger attendance at Shamrock Park for a league game against Larne.Quote:
Originally Posted by oriel
If the setanta cup keeps going despite the 2 opting, there's a good chance the competition will remain. Going with just 4 teams from each league and straight into quarter-finals is probably a good move. Each team will have at least one round against a team from the other league.
Lost in all the hubbub yesterday was the fact that Setanta agreed to a new 3 year sponsorship deal.
Looking forward to this year's competition
Rumored to be signing Ivan Sproule.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Is that a tv deal? If so, is a competition sponsor still to be found?Quote:
Originally Posted by Dodge
No that is a title sponsorship deal. The full statement is on the Airtricity league website afaikQuote:
Originally Posted by legendz
http://www.airtricityleague.ie/match...cup-until-2016
Much reduced but I suppose another couple of attendance gates to add to the takings.Quote:
The prize fund of €73,000 will be distributed as follows:
Winners: €30,000 plus €3,000 for participating.
Runners-Up: €10,000 plus €3,000 for participating.
Other participants: €4,500 each.
So, they'll invite the next highest two from the IFA right?
Ballinamallard and Coleraine have already accepted.Quote:
Originally Posted by NeverFeltBetter
Would the small crowds also have something to do with the scheduling of matches? Surely if they were a Friday night they would draw bigger crowds. Monday and Tuesday matches never attract that many even when they are LOI league games.
Of course it is but it's a minor competition so it'll always have lower crowds anyway. Wouldn't really like to see league games moved around for it
Unfortunate that Belfast clubs pulled out but Linfield, in particular, have been cool on the competition in recent years. Given reduced prize fund it should be run on a pure knockout basis, top 4 from each League with (first round of) 4th in LOI playing 1st in IL 3rd in LOI plays 2nd in IL and so on. Shorter sharper and each game would have ross border element. Hopefully a shorter campaign would allow clubs play the games at more crowd friendly times, travelling cross country in winter on a Monday night is not a great attraction for supporters.
I would till hope that an all island league is the best way forward for the development of football in both current Leagues so would hope that Setanta Cup survives.
Quarter-Final Draw:
Shamrock Rovers v Glentoran
Crusaders v Sligo Rovers
Dundalk v Coleraine
Ballinamallard v St. Pat's
Two leg matches with a one off Final match on Saturday 10th May.
I think the reduced prize fund makes clubs want at least one home gate even more. I'd love it to be knock out myselfQuote:
Originally Posted by marinobohs
It is knockout this year is it not? Home and away legs for the quarters and semi's and then a one leg final:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.n...16568703_n.jpg
yeah, I meant straight knock out (as in just one leg)
Aye, I get you, this is what happens when you're rared on the FA(I) Cup! :D Though with the prize money/ participation money down this year at least one guaranteed home gate for each team is fair enough. The only downside is the potential for nothing to play for in the second legs though for the teams at home then but with the smaller amount of teams in it it does give a bit more competition wise with the two legged rounds.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dodge
Great draw all round I think, of the four ties only Crusaders and Sligo met in the Setanta Cup before. Ballinamallard/St. Pat's is a first, Coleraine and Dundalk's only meeting was in 1970, Shamrock Rovers and Glentoran haven't played each other competitively since 1969.
Setanta called Coleraine 'debutantes' but this is their third entry in the SSC.
http://www.setanta.com/ie/setanta-sports-cup-draw-3/
Using the feminine form of debutant was a bit uncalled for.Quote:
Originally Posted by Professor K
Setanta have announce they will broadcast games from the competition again this season also which is great news.
Given the imbalance between the two leagues I think the only way to spark a bit of interest attendance-wise is for IL teams to be at home in the 1st leg.....Rovers v Glens looks tasty, but if Glentoran are 3 goals down come the 2nd leg then I doubt there'll be many at the Oval.
There were feck all in the Oval last year when they knocked out Pats too.Quote:
Originally Posted by AnnaghRed
The draw is made to have 2 teams from each league at home each week (for the first round anyway)
I was in Portadown this year for the Portadown X Drogheda clash, after Portadown drew 2-2 away and had big chances of qualifying.
The attendance was similar to a Portadown X Linfield match I've been to months later in the beginning of the season (this match was in a sunny saturday afternoon rather than a Monday in March. Has to be considered that Linfield obviously brought way more supporters than Drogheda so it means that the home attendance was actually bigger). The team did seem to be making an effort to promote the match, they were even accepting euros for payment in the turnstiles. That said, I've sat among the Portadown supporters and talked to them about the match. They weren't exactly playing the game of their lives, but their supporters were really mad at being eliminated and by the 75th minute, when Drogheda was already 4 or 5-0 ahead, they left the stadium en masse.
By that experience I thought they cared more about the competition, maybe this game was an exception. That even Cliftonville doesn't give a damn about it surprises me quite a lot.
BOYLESPORTS ODDS
Setanta Cup 2014 ~ Outright Betting, (place terms: 1/2 the first 2)
-------------------------------------------------
11-4 St Patrick's Athletic
11-4 Shamrock Rovers
7-2 Sligo Rovers
9-2 Dundalk
10 Crusaders
14 Glentoran
25 Coleraine
33 Ballinamallard United
Sneaky Queen's shilling on Ballinamallard. I'm feeling lucky!
A few eyebrows being raised by Coleraine and Glentoran fans about ticket prices for their away games against Dundalk and Rovers. Tickets have been priced at £15 Stirling. Going by their website, Dundalk are charging home fans €15. Can anyone confirm how much Rovers are charging their home fans? Also, does anyone know what price are Sligo and St Pat's fans are being charged coming North?
We are being charged £10 for adults and £6 for concessions or of you don't have Sterling it's €12/€8Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr_Parker
Shamrock Rovers I'm sure will be charging 15 euro in for the Setanta cup game v Glentoran. Thats what it always is.
Are you being allowed to pay cash, rather than needing tickets?Quote:
Originally Posted by PartySaint