Jokeshop!
All Cup Finals should be played at neutral venues. Shoulda been Tolka!
bhs
The SFAI are the governing body for grassroots football in Ireland, not the FAI. Its success or the lack of is all down to them.
It's harsh on Glens but Setanta know that whatever tickets Glens don't sell, Cork will buy. 7,000 at Turners Cross > 4,000 at Tolka/Dalymount as far as Setanta are concerned. No doubt Cork are fancying their chances of a nice financial boost.
Upwards to the vanguard where the pressure is too high.
That may be the case - but you can't alolocate the final of a tournament with such a relatively large pay-out on the basis of where may or may not attract a bigger crowd.
Whatever happened to the time-worn concept of neutral venues for big cup finals ?
IMO it cheapens the Setanta final to consciously and deliberately give it to the ground of one of the two finalists (as opposed to it being in a finalist's ground by-default, like with Windsor or Tolka). I also think it sets a very bad precedent for future years, and can see it causing rows
The gap between winner and runner-up in this tournament is €70,000. Cork have instantly been handed a huge advantage in laying their hands on that incremental sum, which is unfair.
A bad footballing decision.
What a crazy decision! very unfair on the Glens Its takes something like 6 hours on a train to get form Belfast to Cork!
were constantly travelling to the north - Glentoran have never been further than Inchicore!
Which, incidentally is the closest away game we've had
I've been to Derrytwic in two weeks ffs - I agree as its a final it should probably be a neutral venue but think of the upsides
Possibility of a close to capacity crowd - looks good on tv and boosts coffers of all three parties involved
A chance to debunk the myth that bringing Glentoran or Linfield to Cork will cause untold amounts of trouble - there would likely be more trouble in Dublin from locals interested in trouble.
Glentoran get to visit a new ground - as far as I know. We've never played each other so its going to be an historic ocasion and hopefully the St. Annes end will be roofed and we will have a fantastic final.
I can't wait for it to be honest!
Upwards to the vanguard where the pressure is too high.
League Cup Finals for the past couple of years???
You should know about them....
I agree that it's not perfect but why does everybody automatically plump for Dublin?
If people are genuinely worried about facilitating/screwing up both sets of supporters then why not Galway, Longford or Athlone?
As another post stated there was no complaints last year when Linfield hosted it at Windsor.
BTW How often do Glentoran get long/overnight trips. I'm sure that a large number of their supporters are looking forward to it with no qualms.
Last edited by twowheelsonly; 15/10/2008 at 11:55 PM.
I used the word "big". Even City fans wouldn't claim the League Cup as a big final. If it was played at neutral venues (which it hasn't been since god knows when, if ever at all) it would attract a shockingly poor crowd. The Setanta has the capacity to attract a good crowd - possible even better than the FAI or IFA Cup finals, participants depending.
Everyone plumps for Dublin, because the stadia outside of there (with the exception of Cork) are muck, and not up to the job.
Because that was always the deal, and would've been even if Linfield weren't there. No other stadium in the north is arguably up to the job (The Oval is antiquated), so it had to be Windsor really. Linfield just happened to make the final - it wasn't chosen once they got there, unlike Turners Cross.
As has been pointed ouit already, Irish league fans think a trip to Derry is a major outing/wild adventure. They'll be packing passports, guidebooks and bermuda shorts for Cork......!
Jesus people, it is the FAI's turn to host the final this year, and they stated before the Derry v City semi that the winners of that would host the match.
End of story.
Bout time anyway that we didn't have to travel. Our nearest away game in the Setanta Cup this year was St Pats for flip sake.
Add to that that the Cross should hopefully be close to capacity, the St Anne's End roof will be done so the stadium will look top class (by EL standards obviously) on the tv, plus there should be a fantastic atmosphere ate it given what we have been through the season so I can only see having it at Turners Cross as a positive thing , for the Setanta Cup competition itself and our League!
low lie the fields of Bishopstown......
Maybe if the Corkies didn't waste all their money buying the right to host finals their finances would be in better shape!!!
When will tickets be available?
We tend to believe that words enable thought. But words can also substitute for thought.
- Richard A. Posner
The SFAI are the governing body for grassroots football in Ireland, not the FAI. Its success or the lack of is all down to them.
Shels v Linfield (played in Tolka)
Cork v Drogs (played in Tolka)
Linfield v Drogs (played in Windsor)
Cork v Glentoran (Played in Turners Cross)
The only Setanta final ever played at a neutral venue was the one where both sides came from the same football association. Otherwise, the location of the final is passed in turns between the two associations.
If we'd beaten Linfield in the semi final last season we'd have been heading up to the oval this season. It's that simple.
As for Glens having to travel to Cork, we understand the hassle better than anyone else, in the four years of the competition, no club has done as much travelling as Cork City has.
The SFAI are the governing body for grassroots football in Ireland, not the FAI. Its success or the lack of is all down to them.
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