North-South cup....NO CITY?!

**Pablo** · 04/08/2004, 1:26 AM

Heard a rumour tonight that City will not be in this competition and that it will be last years league Winners, runners up and the cup winners i.e Shels, Bohs and Longford

not a good format IMO. the old top four was the way to go. 3 each north and south is a bit weird. Still full details this morning see here

**adamcarr** · 04/08/2004, 1:42 AM

........

thecorner · 04/08/2004, 1:48 AM

Originally Posted by Pablo

years league Winners, runners up and the cup winners i.e Shels, Bohs and Longford

here

big crowd pullers

**Flynninio** · 04/08/2004, 7:47 AM

would love to get linfield down the cross.atmosphere be unreal.
city would destroy them...........

**tiktok** · 04/08/2004, 7:56 AM

Hooo.... and Ray.....

Granted it could have been a money spinner, and from that point of view I hope Longford win it, but it's on next April, do we need the distraction. To be honest i don't know what the FAI are playing at...

Last Season, Three week break for the Special Olympics, end of season fixture chaos. This Season, Half way through the season there's arguments already about fixtures from teams in European competition.
So next season they decide to add to the problem of Euro fixtures by taking away three teams for a chunk of time at the start of the league. Bonkers.

**NorthoftheLee** · 04/08/2004, 8:15 AM

I'd be delighted if City weren't in it......waste of time if you ask me.....the first one is in march next year and then they are playing it in November from then on....just what is needed near the title run in......I heard it was the top 4 from the north v the top 4 from the eL. Avoid the whole thing would be best IMO...

**namloc** · 04/08/2004, 9:00 AM

I think city need to be involved in something like this. It would raise the profile of the club hugely especially when the games are to be televised live. If City are really a club with big ambitions they should definitely be pushing for a place in this. Imagine the good press if we beat linfield at the 'Cross!!!! Not to mention the prize money on offer!!

**Peadar** · 04/08/2004, 9:03 AM

Originally Posted by Pablo

it will be last years league Winners, runners up and the cup winners i.e Shels, Bohs and Longford

Surely it will be this years league winners, runners up and cup winners?

**Peadar** · 04/08/2004, 9:09 AM

Originally Posted by xtreme rebel

If this comes in then the League Cup should be totally scrapped.

Yes, I hate that competition but what about the likes of St. Pat's and Longford who like the League Cup? What will they play in?
The "Those Who Didn't Qualify For Anything" Cup?

**Dodge** · 04/08/2004, 10:20 AM

I heard it was the four european qualifiers but the first edition would be in April nexy year so it'd those who qualify from this season (meaning nobody knows who yet...)

**Peadar** · 04/08/2004, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

(meaning nobody knows who yet...)

Of course we do.
Cork City
Shels
Bohs
and UCD from the Cup.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Welcome back Dodge

**namloc** · 04/08/2004, 10:25 AM

anyone know what time the press conference is on this morning about the north-south cup?

**Ruairi** · 04/08/2004, 10:27 AM

10 am apparantley, but there's been no word yet

**namloc** · 04/08/2004, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by xtreme rebel

It says here that the competition may start later this month!!!

this month!!!! FIXTURE PILE UP!!!

**Dodge** · 04/08/2004, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by Peadar

Welcome back Dodge

Never went away...

Just thought in the aftermath of Nantes and UCD anything I'd say would be answered with some jackeen reference...

Now remember Peader the game this Friday is an away game for Cork,

AWAY

**tiktok** · 04/08/2004, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by xtreme rebel

It says here that the competition may start later this month!!!

The official press release says next april for the 'setanta cup'

**namloc** · 04/08/2004, 10:55 AM

Setanta Cup launched

The FAI and the IFA today announced an All Ireland Club tournament, scheduled to be played for the first time in April 2005.
A sponsorship deal has been done with Setanta Sports for four years, which will also include television coverage of the games.
The tournament will consist of three teams each from the South and the North of Ireland. Teams will be played in two groups of three with each team playing four games, two home and two away. The winners of each group will play each other in the final, although it has not yet been confirmed whether that will be a one-off game or a two-legged affair.
Qualification for the competition will take the same format as qualification for European competition. The winners and runners up as well as the premier cup competition winners will qualify from each jurisdiction. In the event that the cup winners also occupy the top two league places, the third placed team will qualify.
Each group will have a split of two from one country and one from the other.
Setanta Sports will have cameras at all thirteen games with a minimum of ten to be screened live.
Details of the sponsorship package over four years are that €1.6 million is coming in for the competition and €1.3 million of that will form prize money. The exact breakdown of the prize money has not been finalized and could change from year to year but there will be sufficient incentive for all competing teams.
The competition will initially be played in April but the FAI's CEO Fran Rooney stated that this could change for subsequent years and that playing around November could help build the atmosphere under floodlights.
On the question of security Rooney stated "there are no concerns over security" after checking with both the gardai and the IFA.
Niall Cogley, Setanta's Chief Executive confirmed that the games will be shown on the new Setanta Sports channel. The channel is subscription based and is part of all NTL customer's packages. He also said that they were "close to finalizing a deal with Sky Digital", and are in discussions with Chrous.
As former head of RTE Sport, Niall Cogley faced some questioning over that channels lack of interest in the domestic game. He refuted the claim that RTE were against visiting certain venues and said it was more likely they would steer away from venues that would have been less likely to have good attendances. When asked about the possibility of Setanta covering either of the two domestic leagues he answered "we're already talking to the FAI", but wouldn't be drawn on how far the discussions had advanced.
Shelbourne's Ollie Byrne raised the issue that a number of clubs feel games should be an event and built up and hyped as such by the broadcaster. Fran Rooney's response to that was that he had the same concerns and that it was a crucial area of this deal.

Credit: http://www.irishfootballonline.com/n...hp?newsid=1951

**Peadar** · 04/08/2004, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Now remember Peader the game this Friday is an away game for Cork,

Every game is an "away" game for me now Dodge.
Check out my location.

**pete** · 04/08/2004, 11:02 AM

1.3m sponsorship over 4 years would mean 55k prize money per team if was split evenly. AFAIK winning the eL Premier won't even make a team that money?

Bit strange having 3 teams per group as will mean 1 eL team stuck with 2 IL & visa versa.

I'm sure this may also be related to the FAIs attempts to merge with the eL & if this a sign of things to come then its all good.

**Pablo** · 04/08/2004, 11:22 AM

Originally Posted by xtreme rebel

It says here that the competition may start later this month!!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...sh/3534200.stm

"There is a lot of support for the Eircom League clubs from the Football Association of Ireland and a lot of government money goes in.

"Hopefully, this could be kickstart for the same type of financial backing up here"

Hello!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i dont think so Mr Linfield man!