Setanta Cup Round 3

**ifk101** · 15/04/2008, 12:23 PM

There's an interview on the bbc website with Cliftonville's goalie John Connolly. He says Cork are the best team he's ever played against. He also says Cork are head and shoulders above Gent whom Cliftonville played in the intertoto last year. Gent beat Cliftonville 6-0 over two legs.

**Drogman.** · 15/04/2008, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by ifk101

There's an interview on the bbc website with Cliftonville's goalie John Connolly. He says Cork are the best team he's ever played against. He also says Cork are head and shoulders above Gent whom Cliftonville played in the intertoto last year. Gent beat Cliftonville 6-0 over two legs.

Looks like his water was spiked with some L*nger fairy dust

**Steve Bruce** · 15/04/2008, 12:55 PM

I do accept that LOI sides are better (bar linfield), that isn’t debatable, it is fact. But I do feel that scheduling does hamper IL sides due to it being a run in to the season and being a vastly part time league the fitness does tell.

I do think in October that IL sides would compete a lot better, I’m not saying IL sides will dominate, or win more matches than the LOI but I do think the games will be closer and their would be more results favouring the IL.

The gap however will be getting bigger though and eventually even Linfield wont be able to compete as your getting far better investment. More crowds going through the gates and better facilities. Which is fantastic and although I don’t want an AIL or Linfield to join the LOI, I am jealous of the improvements and the vision being show in the LOI.

Irish League football has been getting further and further behind similar sized European countries. Standards are slipping, crowds are getting worse, facilities getting old.

I think once this Setanta contract runs out, an AIL competition should be scrapped and revisited in 10+ years or whenever it takes for the Irish League to get their arses into gear.

**Steve Bruce** · 15/04/2008, 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by ifk101

There's an interview on the bbc website with Cliftonville's goalie John Connolly. He says Cork are the best team he's ever played against. He also says Cork are head and shoulders above Gent whom Cliftonville played in the intertoto last year. Gent beat Cliftonville 6-0 over two legs.

I think he is on drugs. Not to take away from Corks ability, but if Cork where that great they would have won the league easily last season. Cork are good but not that good.

**thischarmingman** · 15/04/2008, 1:16 PM

Originally Posted by Steve Bruce

The gap however will be getting bigger though and eventually even Linfield wont be able to compete as your getting far better investment. More crowds going through the gates and better facilities. Which is fantastic and although I don�t want an AIL or Linfield to join the LOI, I am jealous of the improvements and the vision being show in the LOI.

Irish League football has been getting further and further behind similar sized European countries. Standards are slipping, crowds are getting worse, facilities getting old.

I think once this Setanta contract runs out, an AIL competition should be scrapped and revisited in 10+ years or whenever it takes for the Irish League to get their arses into gear.

Or instead of watching the league get further and further behind everyone else over the next decade they could maybe start considering the prospect of an AIL? But then of course, Linfield might not be top dog. Far better to be the best violinist playing on the ship as it goes down...

**thischarmingman** · 15/04/2008, 1:40 PM

Team news:

Glentoran v Derry

Glentoran put their title challenge on hold as they welcome Stephen Kenny's side to Belfast. Glens boss Alan McDonald is again likely to field a changed side from the eleven that drew with Linfield at the weekend.

Darren Boyce may have to settle for a place on the bench although McDonald made ten changes to the team for last week's Cup game so Glens' squad players should get another run out.

Derry are still missing Sammy Morrow, Darren Quigley, Kevin Deery and Mark McChrystal. Pat McCourt, Mark Farren and Clive Delaney are also ruled out of the City team. And City boss Kenny will rotate his side from their league clash with Sligo with Aaron Callaghan, David McDaid and Niall McGinn all set to feature.

St. Pats v Linfield

The clash sees the current league leaders north and south meet in the final Setanta Cup group game ahead of the competition break.

For St Pat's, influential defender Jamie Harris is an injury concern having missed Friday's league game in Donegal. Saints will again be missing Joseph Ndo, while boss Johnny McDonnell will rotate the side that easily defeated Finn Harps at the weekend.

Linfield boss David Jeffrey has no such luxury as he has the bare bones of a squad as his long season draws to an end. Jim Ervin is ruled out after suffering cruciate ligament damage in the weekend's league clash with Glentoran and long-term injury absentees Tim Mouncey and Tim McCann are still out. Kris Lindsay is suspended for the trip to Dublin.

Elsewhere, Athlone host Kildare. http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2008/...n_kildare.html

**Steve Bruce** · 15/04/2008, 2:11 PM

Originally Posted by thischarmingman

Or instead of watching the league get further and further behind everyone else over the next decade they could maybe start considering the prospect of an AIL? But then of course, Linfield might not be top dog. Far better to be the best violinist playing on the ship as it goes down...

Why would we want to play in a league from a completely different country?

**p�l-dcfc** · 15/04/2008, 2:19 PM

Originally Posted by Steve Bruce

Why would we want to play in a league from a completely different country?

ALL IRELAND league.

ALL IRELAND....

What different country???

**michaelguineys** · 15/04/2008, 2:24 PM

Originally Posted by Drogman.

Looks like his water was spiked with some L*nger fairy dust

Jealousy jealousy

**michaelguineys** · 15/04/2008, 2:25 PM

Originally Posted by Steve Bruce

Why would we want to play in a league from a completely different country?

Uh oh........

**ndrog** · 15/04/2008, 2:29 PM

Originally Posted by ifk101

There's an interview on the bbc website with Cliftonville's goalie John Connolly. He says Cork are the best team he's ever played against. He also says Cork are head and shoulders above Gent whom Cliftonville played in the intertoto last year. Gent beat Cliftonville 6-0 over two legs.

jees , talk about stating the absolute obvious .Cork are without doubt the best team in Ireland and have conquered all in front of them recently .There european record is outstanding

**michaelguineys** · 15/04/2008, 2:46 PM

Originally Posted by ndrog

jees , talk about stating the absolute obvious .Cork are without doubt the best team in Ireland and have conquered all in front of them recently .There european record is outstanding

Why thank you.
Never heard someone from Drogheda to talk so much sense.
Fair play to ya

**pete** · 15/04/2008, 3:30 PM

Originally Posted by ifk101

There's an interview on the bbc website with Cliftonville's goalie John Connolly. He says Cork are the best team he's ever played against. He also says Cork are head and shoulders above Gent whom Cliftonville played in the intertoto last year. Gent beat Cliftonville 6-0 over two legs.

We are only playing ok this season & not the best team in the league this year. Further proof of the gulf in standards between the leagues. IL sides always complain about scheduling but it is their own fault so with County Antrim Shield & other pointless competitions.

IMO the IL sides do not take seriously as no extra prize money between competition qualification & final qualification. I think they see no chance of progressing so just take their Setanta cash & make no effort. Setanta need to stop the policy of showing every team & just pick the best matches.

**Sam_Heggy** · 15/04/2008, 7:07 PM

Sounds like a good atmosphere at the Pats game tonight.

**thischarmingman** · 15/04/2008, 7:17 PM

Pats one up.

Text updates here:

http://www.setanta.com/en/Sport/News...cets/football/

**cornerflag** · 15/04/2008, 7:43 PM

The Pats game is on both Setanta Ireland and Setanta Sports 2.

Do they normally broadcast the games on Setanta 1 or 2?

Wonder how many people across the water have chosen to watch this game over blue square footy on setanta 1.

Edit: i see the drogs match was on setanta 2 last night also. good to see that there is some form of irish football being broadcast outside off the island