Who will win the Setanta Cup 2006

**holidaysong** · 10/04/2006, 4:43 PM

I think Linfield will win it. They are destroying everything put in front of them this season. Anyone know what odds they are at the moment?

**ger121** · 10/04/2006, 5:12 PM

Linfield for me. They would be hard to beat at home and proved they can win a final away.

**Buller** · 10/04/2006, 10:10 PM

I think cork city could win it if its in tolka park but if its up in winsor i'd say linfield could do it... gonna be a tight though... (and no i havn't forgotten about the drogs who could still beat linfield...)

**royalblue** · 11/04/2006, 1:09 AM

Hope Linfield win it, but anything can happen in football and usually does! We havent played to form in about 3 months now. Even though we beat the Glens six we didnt play that well, even the papers noted that. Also just read that four of our first team players will be missing tomorrow night through injury. Anyway may the best team win!

**pete** · 11/04/2006, 10:10 AM

City v Linfield is the final everyone wants (excluding Drogs fans) at Tolka now.

**Dassa** · 11/04/2006, 11:17 AM

Originally Posted by pete

City v Linfield is the final everyone wants (excluding Drogs fans) at Tolka now.

Why would the game be at Tolka. it was there last year, Surely it is time for NI to have a final if Linfield are in it.

ROI one year NI the next if teams from both countries in it, sounds fair.

**stickyjoe** · 11/04/2006, 11:37 AM

IF it is Linfield Cork I would play it over 2 legs if possible. Interest would be fantastic in both games and would give both sets of fans a chance to see one of the games. Not sure if Setanta rules would allow this

**Not Brazil** · 11/04/2006, 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by Dassa

Why would the game be at Tolka. it was there last year, Surely it is time for NI to have a final if Linfield are in it.

ROI one year NI the next if teams from both countries in it, sounds fair.

Absolutely.

It was stated prior to this years competition (for better, or worse) that the Final would be in Northern Ireland, should a IPL team make the final.

If those rules are changed, there'll be uproar. You make the rules, and you stick with them.

Linfield abided by last years rules, which gave Shelbournehome advantage in the Final.

That's the way the cookie crumbles.

**Poor Student** · 11/04/2006, 11:57 AM

It's like the eircom League cup. The rules stated that there would be a coin toss between the finalists to decide where the final would be played. When UCD got to the final last year and won the coin toss Derry fought the decision with vigour because we were a small club and our ground is not the best. But the rules were rules and there was no exceptions or provisions made in them. The final has to be in Windsor if Linfield win. The problem is that they made these stupid rules and set a stupid precedent by hosting the final in Tolka last year with Shels having qualified. It is stupid that Cork will have to travel the length of the country while Linfield will be at home but they're the rules and precedents set. You can't shift goalposts mid tournament. The rules should have had the final to be always in a neutral ground.

As for the original topic. Before the semis I couldn't hazard a guess at who would win and I think that is what has been good about this year's tournament. I've enjoyed it.

**Dassa** · 11/04/2006, 11:58 AM

very true.

**A face** · 11/04/2006, 12:53 PM

If its at home to Linfield then we'll have to look at same day flights because i know that alot of people just wont travel 9 hrs up and 9 hrs down .... its a shame because if it were Tolka, it would be a full house and both teams would be well supported !!

**Dassa** · 11/04/2006, 1:11 PM

Originally Posted by A face

If its at home to Linfield then we'll have to look at same day flights because i know that alot of people just wont travel 9 hrs up and 9 hrs down .... its a shame because if it were Tolka, it would be a full house and both teams would be well supported !!

I feel sorry for cork,but do you not understand what message this would send out to the teams from NI. Its setantas fault last year should never have happened at Tolka but it did. If Linfield are in the final and its played at Tolka the competition for me will have lost all credability.

**Bald Student** · 11/04/2006, 1:14 PM

Originally Posted by Dassa

I feel sorry for cork,but do you not understand what message this would send out to the teams from NI. Its setantas fault last year should never have happened at Tolka but it did. If Linfield are in the final and its played at Tolka the competition for me will have lost all credability.

I agree. I future years the rule should probably be changed to a fair neutral venue but you can't change the rules this close to the game.

**pineapple stu** · 11/04/2006, 1:14 PM

Exactly. You make a call and you have to stick with it. There was a lot of pressure to have the League Cup Final played in the Brandywell and not in Belfield even after we won home draw - it would have been a disgrace had it been changed and would have sent out all the wrong messages. This is a similar incident. You can't change the rules to suit telly or to suit one set of fans. The rules were there at the outset and can't be changed now.

**pineapple stu** · 11/04/2006, 1:16 PM

Incidentally, Dassa - what would be the next best ground up north after Windsor? There should be three grounds proposed for the final - three north, three south. In any one year, we know if the final will be up north or down south. The three grounds are listed in order of preference. If Ground 1 is the home of one of the clubs involved, then you scratch that off the list and go to ground 2. Then (a) there's plenty of warning that you might host the final (b) there's decent warning that you will host the final and (c) you're guaranteed a neutral venue.

**Dassa** · 11/04/2006, 1:33 PM

It depends if you are talking about the best or the biggest, The oval is massive but for the crowd expected the atmosphere would be poor. However Mourneview can only hold 4000 yet the atmosphere when packed is brillant. Shamrock park isnt great but if good crowd can have good atmosphere going in the shed. ballymena also good but its far to far away for the teams from ROI. I really feel sorry for Cork if they have to make this long journey but for the future of the competition if Linfield make the final it has to happen.