Lets be honest we can argue about the Setanta all night. If an IL team wins it, the EL fans will say "ah, but ye were all mid season and fit". But if an EL team wins it the IL fans will say "Ah but we we're tired coz we're mid season". Its a bullsh*t argument, and one that will NEVER settle the "which league is best" argument. Supporters of each league don't believe the other at the moment because excuses are readily available to both sides.
Personally, I think that the EL is of a higher standard. But forgetting about Derry, Shels, Cork and Drogs for now - how would UCD do in a game against Coleraine? StPats v Ballymena? Longford v Newry? Sligo v Limavady and so on. This argument needs more teams involved than the 8 involved in the Setanta.
I would say there is greater strength in depth in the Eircom League but at the top level of both leagues it is pretty much on a par. The Setanta Cup results since the competition started have shown this. The only real hammering was Shelbourne against the Glens last week and for Linfield to go to Tolka Park and beat Shelbourne showed that there is no big gap. Remember that final was towards the end of May when Shels were well into their season and ours was over domestically.
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