Womens Senior Challenge Cup

**rasper** · 01/12/2006, 9:15 AM

match live on midwest click on http://midwestirishradio.com/index1.htm

**CollegeTillIDie** · 02/12/2006, 2:01 PM

What about the principle that a national cup final should take place in the nation's capitol city?

When Wembley was functioning , English F.A. Cup Finals always took place at Wembley which is suburban LONDON.
Nowadays the Women's FA Cup Finals are usually held at League grounds based in the capital.

The French Cup finals take place in Paris.
And in recent years the German Cup finals have been held in Berlin.

Many countries have two legged finals, which breaches that principal.
Given that we have a one leg final, and given there are no EL clubs based in Mayo,why not an EL venue in the capital?

The game was originally intended to be held at Lansdowne Road. It got moved and then reason for moving the game got removed ( i.e. an AIL Division 3 Rugby Union game, originally scheduled for this afternoon at Lansdowne Road).

Perhaps next year when Athlone's new ground opens up it might provide a suitable venue for hosting the final, which to be fair St.Mel's Park never was.

**chick** · 02/12/2006, 7:27 PM

mid way through second half, its one nil to mayo. aoife herbert scored.

**CollegeTillIDie** · 02/12/2006, 7:58 PM

Congratulations to Mayo, was not able to go to the game. Listened to the coverage online thanks to Midwest Irish Radio. They covered the second half live. Shame they didn't get to do the whole game, coverage was pretty good and nowhere near as one sided as one might have imagined. Well done to Mayo and Midwest Irish Radio. Final score Mayo League 1 UCD 0

**swinfordfc** · 02/12/2006, 10:56 PM

Up Mayo
well done girls

**Wexford Rules** · 03/12/2006, 9:49 AM

Well done to Mayo. A big boost for rural soccer all around the country. It was believed that no league representative team would ever win the competition so for it to happen within three years is fantastic. Everyone in Wexford congratulate Mayo and wish them the best of luck in the champions league next year

**Countryripple** · 03/12/2006, 11:56 AM

Congrats to the Mayo girls on their win.

Now comes the interesting part........A representative team cannot play in the UEFA Cup. It is a competition for clubs only.

I mentioned this in a previous thread a long time ago. But I guess the WFAI will wrangle their way around it somehow.

And if they cant and it comes back and bites them in the backside, well, they only have themselves to blame for bending their own rules to allow represenative teams take part in our national cup competition.

**nemi7** · 03/12/2006, 12:26 PM

does anyone know whether there will be highlights of the match on tv sometime?

**CollegeTillIDie** · 03/12/2006, 3:54 PM

Originally Posted by Countryripple

Congrats to the Mayo girls on their win.

Now comes the interesting part........A representative team cannot play in the UEFA Cup. It is a competition for clubs only.

I mentioned this in a previous thread a long time ago. But I guess the WFAI will wrangle their way around it somehow.

And if they cant and it comes back and bites them in the backside, well, they only have themselves to blame for bending their own rules to allow represenative teams take part in our national cup competition.

Representative teams were invited to play in the competition for one simple reason. The number of clubs entering the WFAI Senior Cup was dwindling. This was brought about by the hidings administered particularly to clubs from rural areas who were drawn against DWSL clubs in the Cup. Shamrock Rovers beat Bunclody 11-0 away in the First Round one year.
Having said that Shamrock Rovers had tonked even other member clubs of the DWSL by similar margins over the years too in the same competition. But UCD had beaten one or two clubs by similar margins. The last year there were no represntative teams in the competition only 11 clubs entered the senior cup. And that included the previous years Intermediate Cup finalists who by rights MUST enter the Senior Cup the following year. The entire future of the Competition itself was at stake.

And for the first couple of years the Representative sides entered the Cup one or two of them got hammered too. However things have changed and the League representative sides have become more competitive culminating in this seasons result.

The European issue will be resolved one way or another. Either Mayo will be permitted or else the WFAI has the option of nominating someone such as UCD may well represent Ireland in the UEFA Cup.

**rasper** · 04/12/2006, 2:03 AM

mayo will represent ireland they play as a club

**Countryripple** · 04/12/2006, 10:03 AM

Yea. Ive heard the excuses why they allowed representative teams in and all that blah before. I do still feel that it is wrong on many levels.

In a sense i feel sorry for the Mayo girls for being lulled into this under the false expectation that if they win (which they did) they would be entering the UEFA Cup as Irelands top club. At the end of the day, their players are drawn as individuals from different clubs. This consititutes a representative team. This is evident even in their name: Mayo League. This format of team is not allowed by UEFA to take part in European CLUB competition. If Mayo or any of the other 'League' teams taking part had felt they could go all the way in the WFAI Cup, why were they not adaquately informed of the UEFA rules? If they had been, they might have just all left their existing clubs, formed a new one to play for and played together as that CLUB?

At the moment, the only european or international competition that has representative teams taking part in them are...............................oh yea......................THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP and THE WORLD CUP!!

**rasper** · 04/12/2006, 1:00 PM

if you check with the fai you will find that mayo are going to europe.this has been cleared with uefa two years ago.i am sure that C.T.I.D. will back me up on this one.where there is a will there is a way mayo become that club.

**Countryripple** · 04/12/2006, 3:23 PM

Ah yes, the usual old: lets get a way around doing this the wrong way, instead of following the rules in the first place!!!

Brilliant!!

Typical of the backward organisation of football in this country. It makes me ache with both laughter and shame.

**Wexford Rules** · 04/12/2006, 4:11 PM

Its obvious countryripple does not agree with representative teams taking part in the Senior Cup. In my opinion, it has given the whole competition a whole new lease of life because no matter what anyone says, it was slowly dying on its feet. Mayo deserve their place in European competition after beating UCD, a feat not many clubs have achieved once, let alone twice. I am sure rules would not have to be bent too far for it to happen cos all Mayo have to do is form a club with their current players and their laughing

**cityman** · 04/12/2006, 7:30 PM

Well done to Mayo League for their win on Sunday.

People have spoken of this bending of the rules??!! This is breaking the rules of a UEFA CLUB competition. UEFA will not allow a Representative side play in their UEFA cup. Im sure that this would be seen as unfair towards the other competing clubs in the competition.

If UEFA do allow this representative side in to their competition, whats to stop a country putting their U/19 or U/21 sides into their leagues and renaming them?? After all whats in a name??

The national league winners from each country qualify for the above tournament. But because we dont have a national league,(does anyone know who is to blame for that one?!!), our representative qualifies through our senior cup. When or if we organise a national league, based on our senior cup of recent years, is it going to have representative sides involved?

anyone got any thoughts?http://www.foot.ie/inc/img/icons/foot.ie.gif

**Wexford Rules** · 04/12/2006, 9:24 PM

When the National League starts, teams who currently play as representative teams will have the right to form a proper club and apply to enter the league as that club. If they are accepted, they will be entitled to participate. My belief is that the national league will need those teams as there are very few clubs currently in existince that will have the structure and finances to survive at national level. If the league is to be a success, these factors will be very important, if not it will fall apart in a short period of time and it is vital that this does not happen

**Squeez** · 05/12/2006, 9:30 AM

While I agree with the whole 'they're not officially a club' arguement...dont take it away from them... We should be supporting the Mayo girls and hopefully they'll do themselves proud in the UEFA Cup.

My understanding behind the whole letting representative teams play i senior cup is give players the opportunity to play at a higher level and make them better players, bringing this back to their club to make them better teams! I'm using Cork as an example here cos their probably one of the strongest leagues in Ireland, outside of Dublin, they had players on cork league team over past three years and now have 2teams playing in senior cup next year, this is the way we want it going, hopefully more and more players will improve and better themselves playing with the represntative teams and before you know it we'll have a strong and healthy CLUB competition!

**johnmayo** · 06/12/2006, 1:18 PM

As someone who was involved at the very beginning of the MWFL, I would like to congratulate the girls, Aidan and Michael for all their hard work over the past couple of years and it is great to see that dreams come true for those who believe in themselves and are willing to put in the hard work. For those involved in the early years, where we had referees who wouldn't ref womens games, clubs who prioritise junior training on a pitch where two teams and a ref waited for their "turn", the win still does not seem real.

Was surprised with the turn out in Richmond. Fairplay to officals and players from other clubs who turned up. Hope that the game was entertianing to watch.
Disappointed with some of the UCD crowd who booed the ref and assistants at the final whistle. As someone who was involved with the UCD Mens Club in an earlier life time and still has a soft spot in his heart for all soccer teams bearing the Ad Astra crest (I know it's changed!), I hope that this is sorted out by the Ladies club. UCD to me has always been modest winners and gracious losers, (a legacy of the Doc I believe) I hope that this does not change.

In regards to UEFA competition, the girls wont let the country down.

**CollegeTillIDie** · 06/12/2006, 7:18 PM

Originally Posted by johnmayo

As someone who was involved at the very beginning of the MWFL, I would like to congratulate the girls, Aidan and Michael for all their hard work over the past couple of years and it is great to see that dreams come true for those who believe in themselves and are willing to put in the hard work. For those involved in the early years, where we had referees who wouldn't ref womens games, clubs who prioritise junior training on a pitch where two teams and a ref waited for their "turn", the win still does not seem real.

Was surprised with the turn out in Richmond. Fairplay to officals and players from other clubs who turned up. Hope that the game was entertianing to watch.
Disappointed with some of the UCD crowd who booed the ref and assistants at the final whistle. As someone who was involved with the UCD Mens Club in an earlier life time and still has a soft spot in his heart for all soccer teams bearing the Ad Astra crest (I know it's changed!), I hope that this is sorted out by the Ladies club. UCD to me has always been modest winners and gracious losers, (a legacy of the Doc I believe) I hope that this does not change.

In regards to UEFA competition, the girls wont let the country down.

As a UCD fan and a fan of women's football, who was unable to attend, I am disappointed with the reaction of some of the people supporting the Belfield Belles on the night.

P.S. If you an Ad Astra crest it is till preserved on the UCDAFC Football Scarf and also the club hat. The fans got the scarf and hat made up and have sidestepped the new crest entirely.

**Henry14** · 07/12/2006, 8:45 AM

Ok I dont know if it's just me that thinks this but surely UCD could be seen as more of a representive side I know they are a college team but they have a pick from all over the country and mayo only have a county to pick from so surely it would be fair for them to europe if UCD were eligilble before.