So a UCD V Bohs final might get half the attendance of Cork V Dundalk, but would have more neutrals attending?Originally Posted by EatYerGreens
Is that how you measure "pretty essential"?
I would prefer Dundalk reach the final and meet different opposition than Cork for novelty and atmospherics (both pre-match and in the ground), but I'm not at all clear as to why you say "it'll look bad for the league" if the top two meet again.
I only now see that there is also being discussed on the attendance thread. One thread is enough for this.
One thread is enough for slightly negative comments about Dundalk?
How do you think the rest of us feel each time you score petty points off Rovers on every second thread?
If I have to explain it to you, then you just won't get it my friend...
P.S. I'd put the chances of a Bohs v UCD final at pretty close to zero tbh. Which is why nobody has talked about it, except you.
I really don't see the point being made by EatYerGreens as being in some way negative towards Dundalk, as you appear to do. But maybe your post is really more about trying to score a point with your second comment?
I would prefer a different final pairing, but questioned that the number of neutrals attending is the primary issue or that it is "essential" for the FAI Cup.
That's a big dollop of condescension.If I have to explain it to you, then you just won't get it my friend...
Maybe it fits for you - when you appear unable to adequately back up the view you expressed that the attendance of neutrals is such a critical factor
It was obviously for purposes of illustrating a point - one you choose to ignore. Most would accept that it is probable that at least one of Dundalk or Cork will be in the final
A cup competition by its nature isn't always won by the best team, look to the UK as a for instance.
Cork and Dundalk are miles ahead in the league but a combination for several years now of a bizarre run of luck in terms of avoiding each other and some remarkably friendly draws have left us where we are now. (Cork are in the semi now having played 2 non league teams and Longford who they beat 7 nil).
Dundalk have had a friendly draw as well.
It does make the league look bad as for people that are not engaged with the league they must think That DFC and CC never lose a match in a pub league.
I rarely miss a cup final but I'm bored with Cork V Dundalk
The cup needs a bit of magic/romance (Pats in the final having not won in 50 years) Rovers Ditto, Waterford promoted and regenerated getting there, UCD as a first division club, something to engage people.
If Cork and Dundalk are there again its just another cup for the winners without the magic.
I remember when Rovers won the cup year after year it meant less and less whereas now it would be huge.
Just my tuppence but I think it is essential , the cup final is a big day for the league and neutrals interest is important , people criticise the FAI for not promoting it and getting a bigger crowd but a bit of variety might spice it up. selling another DFC CC final will be a hard sell.
UCD v Cork or Dundalk would float my boat.
Nail on the head there sbgawa.
It's very far from being about whether neutrals are motivated to go the final. They're just a symptom of the underlying issue of repetitive finals killing the appeal of the competition (and by extension impacting the league as a whole).
Just watched the end of Longford v Cork game last night, Sadlier was clearly the best player on the park, and what a fantastic effort for his 3rd, but did he really need to say that in the interview 'I don't know why I didn't get MOTM'
I don't think any player should ever put an individual award above a win. He should have just laughed it off, but he was clearly annoyed.
#DundalkFC - First Irish club to win an away game in Europe (1963), only Irish club to win a game / points in Europa League Group Stage (2016).
I agree with the main thrust of this
Most LoI fans (including Dundalk & Cork supporters) are bored of this reoccurring cup final pairing, although I'm not sure that the top two meeting paints the league in some sort of unfavourable "pub league" light.
I totally agree that any of UCD, Derry or Bohemians in the final would add novelty and romance among other positives to the cup final occasion.
I suspect Dundalk V Cork would probably still draw the biggest attendance; while this is a factor, in my opinion, neither this or the number of neutral fans attending is the single biggest issue
So it seems we are agreed on this, after all!
I would wager the vast majority of LoI fans couldn't give a tuppenny who's in the cup final unless their team are in it.
My own interest in the cup starts and ends (so usually quite early) with Limericks participation.
I find it kind of interesting as a kind of social conditioning thing that Irish football fans stopped caring about the fai cup at the exact same time english fans stopped caring about the fa cup. Bear in mind I'm a strange guy though.
The Cup certainly used to mean a lot more to fans and gates used to go up for it.. at least at Harps when I started going. It's a pity the cups are now so low in people's esteem in my opinion.
#NeverStopNotGivingUp
I think maybe people are reading too much into this. All fans views RE Cup final (any cup final)
- my team get there
(if not)
- any other team beating shams
(if not)
-decent competitive game with a few goals.
there is no doubt that Cork and Dundalk are the two outstanding teams of the last 5/6 years, have produced some excellent games and deserve all they won. it is the fact that they have been there so often that makes most fans (other than Cork and Dundalk fans) want someone (anyone) else in the final. The novelty of some other team would enhance the interest for neutrals (whatever they are) as it would be different to recent finals. Not better, not worse, just different.
How many neutrals go to Cup finals? Always felt it was poorly supported by neutrals.
I don't think there's any way of knowing, but I'd say it gets more neutrals than you might think. It's the one time of the year when an LOI game actually feels like a major event, which in itself is a draw. I've personally gone to finals without my team being in it - and have brought fans of other teams along when we've been in finals too, plus relatives with no real interest in Irish football. It's that kind of a one-off occasion that is possible to attract people to.
It would be interesting to know how many tickets for the Final the FAI shifts to those who have the Aviva seats which give them discounted entry. They're usually the ones higher up in the ground at Finals, in the corporate boxes etc. Presumably many of those wouldn't be regular LOI supporters at all.
I have an FAI International season ticket and it gives you free entry into the Premium Section for the Cup Final. I believe there is about 15k season ticket holders, hard to pinpoint the amount of that who avail of it for the Cup final but I'd take a guess that 3k to 4k avail of it based on when i was in the Premium for last years final
The Leinster Senior League needs a strong Bohemians
Colin Kearns and Neale Corbet the keepers in the UCD v Waterford game.
Can't be often MNS get both keepers' names wrong
Dundalk vs UCD
Derry City/Bohemians vs Cork City
So still on course for a 4th consecutive Dundalk/Cork final, Fran seemed a happy man with that draw
The Leinster Senior League needs a strong Bohemians
Should be straight forward for dundalk you'd think, UCD would give them a game though. Quite the opposite for us, whoever we end up playing.
It’s the first time I’ve been happy with Fran Gavin when he drew us out at home.
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