Tonights Setanta cup previews

**SwiftsSupporter** · 26/03/2007, 10:30 PM

Originally Posted by kdjaC

Swifts for about 110 minutes were the best team we played this season, then we just blew them away with some stunning football and goals.

Kirbys and Brennans being the highlights , shoulda scored about 10 in the 2nd half Maguire 1 on 1

and missed twice

kdjac

Unfotunatley injuries have taken thee tole. Really this seasons been a big disappointment and we've been the 2nd worst team for inuries in our league (behind Loughgall). I think the main problem is that our sides are shattered with playing so many games by this stage where as the EL teams are fully fit and this happened last year also.

**pineapple stu** · 26/03/2007, 10:31 PM

Originally Posted by JC_GUFC

Losing 7-0 at home to any team is a complete and utter joke, they can't be that bad.

Just realised that they had Kevin Pressman in nets as well - there's a fall for you!

**CharlesThompson** · 26/03/2007, 11:18 PM

Originally Posted by SwiftsSupporter

Unfotunatley injuries have taken thee tole. Really this seasons been a big disappointment and we've been the 2nd worst team for inuries in our league (behind Loughgall). I think the main problem is that our sides are shattered with playing so many games by this stage where as the EL teams are fully fit and this happened last year also.

To be honest with you that sounds like an excuse. The sides from down south can hardly be as match fit as the sides up north at this stage of the season. There have only been 2 or 3 league games played at this point yet the teams can go out and put 7 goals and 5 goals against sides who should be just tipping over in training at this time, being that they are absolutely match fit following three quarters of a football season.

I honestly cannot believe that if the Setanta Cup was swapped around to July or August for instance that the results would improve from an Irish League perspective.

**Poor Student** · 26/03/2007, 11:20 PM

Originally Posted by CharlesThompson

I honestly cannot believe that if the Setanta Cup was swapped around to July or August for instance that the results would improve from an Irish League perspective.

If Shels v Glens in the CL is anything to go by, our clubs would be tearing them apart.

**charliesboots** · 26/03/2007, 11:36 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Fancy easy wins for Cork, Pats and Drogs.

The other game will be tight

good shout

**Dodge** · 27/03/2007, 12:16 AM

as ever charlie

**Risteard** · 27/03/2007, 12:43 AM

Journalism even worse than the Echo.
Setanta Cup Round-up:It was a night to forget for a hapless Portadown side who were thumped 7-0 at home by Cork City in the latest round round of Setanta Cup matches.The win means last year's beaten finalists have booked their place in the semi-finals of the cross border competition.

Denis Behan, John Flynn, Colin Healy, Gareth Farrelly all got on the scoresheeet but the free-for-all at Shamrock Park was spear-headed by Roy O'Donovan's hat-trick.

**blueman1886** · 27/03/2007, 1:50 AM

Ports,dungannon and glentoran are ****e,cork are a good team as are drogs and derry.

you should be well fit at this stage and dungannon etc should be well tired as theve played a full season.

We Linfield,would beat any of yas. Bring it on.

**LeviathanNI** · 27/03/2007, 5:17 AM

I think it is all about the attitude and perception that some clubs are giving the Setanta. The first year, the Glens had just pipped us for the League, and that made the Setanta more important to us.. and winning it endeared the competition to us. I think it is a brilliant competition, with some amazing potential/prospects for football on both sides of the border. I also think the Ports and the Glens have wakened up, and will take the competition more seriously next season.

Tonights game, to me, was what the AI Cup was all about.. it was a good, competitive match, and both teams played with a hunger and desire to progress.. as the competiton goes on, and becomes more of a permanent fixture, I believe it will become a major competiton.. to me it is third in importance behind the league and Irish Cup.

**David** · 27/03/2007, 6:38 AM

Originally Posted by LeviathanNI

I think it is all about the attitude and perception that some clubs are giving the Setanta. The first year, the Glens had just pipped us for the League, and that made the Setanta more important to us.. and winning it endeared the competition to us. I think it is a brilliant competition, with some amazing potential/prospects for football on both sides of the border. I also think the Ports and the Glens have wakened up, and will take the competition more seriously next season.

Tonights game, to me, was what the AI Cup was all about.. it was a good, competitive match, and both teams played with a hunger and desire to progress.. as the competiton goes on, and becomes more of a permanent fixture, I believe it will become a major competiton.. to me it is third in importance behind the league and Irish Cup.

Given a choice between Setanta and Irish Cup it would be Setanta every day of the week for me.

**Graemerz** · 27/03/2007, 8:26 AM

Originally Posted by David

Given a choice between Setanta and Irish Cup it would be Setanta every day of the week for me.

Same here. Irish Cup is only important to me if it's our only route to Europe and the Setanta Cup.

**LeviathanNI** · 27/03/2007, 10:09 AM

It is the historic importance of the IC that makes it important to me.. the big day out, a packed stadium.. the knowledge that every team in the country has played from the start. The Setanta is important now, and I think the point I was trying to put across was that the fact it takes precedence over the League cup and CAS already, is a testiment to how popular it is with our support.
I would be very happy to just play in the League, Irish Cup and Setanta (along with the Euro comps obviously as well). Leave the League cup and CAS for our fringe players and Swifts to compete in.

I was just thinking there.. Setanta are sponsoring this for another 4 years, right? We need (and I mean both leagues) to make this work in order to make it continue after that.. it would be a shame to see it go down the pan.

**Dodge** · 27/03/2007, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by LeviathanNI

I was just thinking there.. Setanta are sponsoring this for another 4 years, right? We need (and I mean both leagues) to make this work in order to make it continue after that.. it would be a shame to see it go down the pan.

Agree totally with that. I'd like to see them move games to Saturday nights

**monkey magic** · 27/03/2007, 11:14 AM

interesting thing about corks game is that according to reports colin healey and gareth farrely played... makes ya wonder the influence they had on city last nite. and in fairness to the il, looking at the table, dungannon wont be in the setanta next season and ports are by no means guaranteed their place. personally id be happy to see some new blood forn the il in the competition next year. ports and swifts appear to be two teams in decline after a few years at the top

**Bald Student** · 27/03/2007, 1:17 PM

Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

Portadown and Dungannon signed the Setanta Cup's death warrant tonight.

Feel sorry (almost) for Linfield but until the IL can find 4 decent sides the competition is a farce.

That'll be balanced out a bit by the first division winners in the south playing off with the league cup winners for a spot.

**NY Hoop** · 27/03/2007, 2:24 PM

Why do Pats outfield players not have McDowells on their jerseys?

KOH

**Dodge** · 27/03/2007, 2:30 PM

We've no sponsor at the moment. Smart failed to pay so Special K kicked them out. As contracts are involved we couldn't get replacement in time for the first game so Pats decided to stick mcDowells on the front of the away kit for the first couple of setanta games (home to Ports, away to Cork). We had stpatsfc.com on the home jersey for the game v Longford, and nothing on it since. Not sure what the craic was in Derry but they obviously just left it on the keepers jersey. Looks amateurish at best