Swifts boss handed Cork booby-prize

**A face** · 13/12/2005, 7:36 PM

Swifts boss handed Cork booby-prize

Dungannon Swifts manager Joe McAree admits he did not want to draw eircom League champions Cork City in Monday evening�s Setanta Sports Cup draw, given the expense involved in playing an away game in the southern city.

Swifts qualified for the competition by virtue of their fourth-placed finish in last season�s Carnegie Premier League.

But they will be regarded as rank outsiders in the tournament, and McAree feels his side could have done without a two-day journey to Cork.

Read more at www.eleven-a-side.com

**thejollyrodger** · 13/12/2005, 8:56 PM

what a bunch of cheap skates. They are getting cash just for making the competition .

**crc** · 14/12/2005, 7:24 AM

Originally Posted by thejollyrodger

what a bunch of cheap skates. They are getting cash just for making the competition .

But they'd get the same cash if they were in a different group. Cork is the only team in the Setanta Cup that isn't a 2 / 2.5 hour drive from Dungannon. They could have got a group with Drogheda, Derry and a Belfast club - they would have got the same amount of money, but wouldn't have had to spend a chunk of it on staying over in Cork or getting players two days off work.

**Pablo** · 14/12/2005, 3:01 PM

Originally Posted by crc

But they'd get the same cash if they were in a different group. Cork is the only team in the Setanta Cup that isn't a 2 / 2.5 hour drive from Dungannon. They could have got a group with Drogheda, Derry and a Belfast club - they would have got the same amount of money, but wouldn't have had to spend a chunk of it on staying over in Cork or getting players two days off work.

imagine having to do that travelling every second week???

welcome to our world!

**RedX** · 14/12/2005, 11:42 PM

As far as i am concerned if they are in the competition they should be prepared to travel anywhere..have they any ambition at all...they are a small club and should be thrilled they are in a competition with some very good teams and this is what they say when they draw the eircom league champions...do these people know how much travelling goes into Cork Citys matches every season for players/fans???..get real Mr McAree!

**twoenz** · 15/12/2005, 1:51 AM

Getting anywhere from Dungannon's a bit of a nightmare!

He should be a bit happier. Simply being in the competition is great for such a small team, and entertaining a side such as Cork will be great for the club.

**pete** · 15/12/2005, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by twoenz

He should be a bit happier. Simply being in the competition is great for such a small team, and entertaining a side such as Cork will be great for the club.

I agree. Dungannon will make a profit no matter what extra costs involved. You could probably get hotel accomadation for �1k or so as february is low season.

**pineapple stu** · 15/12/2005, 10:33 AM

Surely the prize money and TV money they'll get out of the competition will offset any trip to Cork?! Not to mention extra gate receipts from the decent amount of Cork and Drogheda fans who'll travel up to Dungannon.

**crc** · 15/12/2005, 12:50 PM

All that Joe McAree said is that he would rather not have drawn Cork. Its not like he sitting at home going "I wish weren't in the Setanta Cup!" He's simply expressing a preference.

Originally Posted by Pablo

imagine having to do that travelling every second week???
welcome to our world!

I know exactly what that's like - I'm a Derry fan living in Cork FFS! But Cork and Derry (and Linfield, Shels, Glentoran, etc.) are big clubs in the Irish scheme of things. Dungannon would be described as semi-Pro at best.

Of course Swifts are going to make money off the Setanta Cup, but the point is that is could have been a whole lot more lucrative (which is in fact important for a small club with ambition).

**pineapple stu** · 15/12/2005, 2:57 PM

In fairness, a trip to Cork isn't exactly going to break the bank anyway. Ireland's a small enough country that travel costs aren't massive, whether you're going from the north to Dublin or to Cork.