Setanta Cup Extended

**A face** · 23/08/2005, 10:11 PM

Setanta Cup extended to eight teams

Following a review of the Setanta Cup between the Football Association of Ireland, the Irish Football Association and sponsors, Setanta Sports, it has been decided to extend the Tournament to eight teams.

The winners of the eircom League Cup and the CIS Cup in Northern Ireland will join the League winners and runners-up as well as the National Cup winners of each Association.

Read more at www.soccercentral.ie

**Dodge** · 23/08/2005, 10:41 PM

Originally Posted by pete

No one let me in on the 32 County Ireland plan via the Setanta Cup...

31 counties... Cork can **** off

**superfrank** · 23/08/2005, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

31 counties... Cork can **** off

If only it were that easy........

**OneRedArmy** · 23/08/2005, 10:52 PM

Originally Posted by Cop on

I'm sitting here looking at two shiny cups.

Get a good look at them & give them a polish as you`ll be looking at one less in a few weeks.

**paudie** · 24/08/2005, 8:13 AM

Originally Posted by sligoman

I think it's a bit unfair announcing that it's been extended to the league cup winners now, considering that there were only 4 teams left in the competition when it was announced. If teams were informed earlier then they may have fielded stronger teams and took more of an interest in the competition.

Indeed, I'd say the Mayo League are gutted they didn't put in more of an effort now.

Seriously though, it's a bit iffy announcing that the LC winners will qualify for a lucrative competition when only 4 teams are left in it.

For that reason alone I think the runners up should not qualify if the winners qualify through another route.

Not having a go at UCD, just my opinion.

**deecay** · 24/08/2005, 9:15 AM

Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

Get a good look at them & give them a polish as you`ll be looking at one less in a few weeks.

It will be in Belfield

**Slash/ED** · 24/08/2005, 12:12 PM

About the additional spot should Derry win and finish in the top two in the league, seems it'll go to third place...

Shels strive for Setanta Cup call

Wednesday August 24th 2005

SHELBOURNE are in danger of missing out on the lucrative Setanta Cup after their shock defeat in Monday night's Eircom League Cup semi-final.

The FAI has extended the number of teams in the cross-border competition to eight but Shelbourne, beaten finalists this year, need a lot of things to go their way if they are to be among the four Eircom League representatives next season.

The champions and runners-up in the Eircom League will qualify along with the winners of the League Cup and FAI Cup.

Shels are out of the FAI Cup and appear to be also out of the running for either one of the top two places in the Premier Divisions.

If Shels finish third in the League then to qualify for the Setanta Cup, where the minimum amount of prize money last season was �30,000, they will need a big favour from their rivals.

If Derry City win the League Cup and finish first or second then Shels would qualify for the Setanta Cup. They would also qualify if Cork City and Derry reach the FAI Cup final and finished 1-2 in the league.

Alternatively, were Longford to win the League Cup and finish third behind Cork and Derry, with one of the top two winning the FAI Cup, Shels could make it by finishing fourth in the League.

Up north, Glentoran won the League and League Cup, Linfield finished second in the League and Portadown won the IFA Cup. Because Glens won the League Cup the fourth IFA place goes to Dungannon Swifts who finished fourth in the League.

Meanwhile, the Disciplinary Commission will meet today to hear charges against Shels Chief Executive Ollie Byrne, manager Pat Fenlon and midfielder Stuart Byrne arising out of the recent league game against Drogheda United.

Gerry McDermott

**pineapple stu** · 24/08/2005, 12:27 PM

Originally Posted by Slash/ED

About the additional spot should Derry win and finish in the top two in the league, seems it'll go to third place...

I e-mailed the FAI today and they confirmed that's what'll happen.

**paudie** · 24/08/2005, 1:07 PM

Why is Gerry McDermott talking in todays paper about the possibility of Longford winning the LEague Cup when they were knocked out last night?

Did he have a premonition they'd beat Derry or something?

Also the NI LEague Cup for 05/06 will be over by the time of the next Setanta so Glens winning it last year won't count.

**EnDai** · 24/08/2005, 1:07 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

I e-mailed the FAI today and they confirmed that's what'll happen.

I've done a quick U-Turn on wanting UCD to win now! Apologies!

**Slash/ED** · 24/08/2005, 1:09 PM

Originally Posted by paudie

Why is Gerry McDermott talking in todays paper about the possibility of Longford winning the LEague Cup when they were knocked out last night?

Did he have a premonition they'd beat Derry or something?

Also the NI LEague Cup for 05/06 will be over by the time of the next Setanta so Glens winning it last year won't count.

I'm fairly sure they'll still go for them rather then the next winners, it's just easier that way.

**Poor Student** · 24/08/2005, 4:14 PM

Originally Posted by Slash/ED

I'm fairly sure they'll still go for them rather then the next winners, it's just easier that way.

They're not as Glens have qualified through the league anyhow. If one of Ports, Linfield or Glens win this season's one then it'll go to Dungannon Swifts who finished 4th.