It's got to be a knock-out
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The most gripping spectacles in sport usually take place when the best competitors go head-to-head in a winner-takes-all gruelling contest.
Perhaps the best example of this would be a prize fight between two champions from different divisions who put their reputations on the line for the chance to be crowned best of the best.
This is what makes the potential match-up of Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr so appealing as even a casual viewer of the sport would be able to see its two most prized assets going all out to land that knock-out blow.
If the Setanta Sports Cup is to survive beyond this year then it needs to adopt a similar style. Rather than boring the audience with endless round after round, go straight to the crunch games that matter.
The original concept behind the cross-border tournament was to pit the best teams in the League of Ireland against the best teams in the Irish League.
A straight knock-out competition would help get the focus back towards that. If it was to go that way then each game would be more competitive as its importance would be heightened due to what is at stake.
“I do think it’s worth keeping on. The North versus South element is good. It’s attractive and it provides good competition, but it’s got to be worked at,” said Bohemians boss Pat Fenlon.
“There has been talk of bringing in more teams and going knock-out and I’d be in favour of that.”
At least someone within the game recognises that a change can be good. Whether more teams involved would work remains to be seen, but certainly a new structure needs to be designed.
Whilst attempting to keep warm on a cold Saturday afternoon, this column couldn’t help but think how it was such a shame that the match between Bohemians and Glentoran lacked a bit of spark.
After a largely forgettable first-half, the second period threatened to raise the excitement levels when the teams netted a goal each. Yet it never really took off and the fans who trotted out of Dalymount Park at full-time would have been fully justified if they felt just a little deflated from it all.
Isn’t this the same tournament that promised us exciting games between teams from both sides of the border? Well, I think I want my money back.
Okay, let’s not be too hasty. The semi-finals could turn out to be entertaining affairs, but even their two-legged format drags it all on for longer than it should. Where’s that knock-out blow that we want to see?
In order to make it a worthwhile competition, the organisers have to go back to basics and realise that the fans want to see the best against the best in games that count for something. Let’s get it sorted!
Perhaps the best example of this would be a prize fight between two champions from different divisions who put their reputations on the line for the chance to be crowned best of the best.
This is what makes the potential match-up of Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr so appealing as even a casual viewer of the sport would be able to see its two most prized assets going all out to land that knock-out blow.
If the Setanta Sports Cup is to survive beyond this year then it needs to adopt a similar style. Rather than boring the audience with endless round after round, go straight to the crunch games that matter.
The original concept behind the cross-border tournament was to pit the best teams in the League of Ireland against the best teams in the Irish League.
A straight knock-out competition would help get the focus back towards that. If it was to go that way then each game would be more competitive as its importance would be heightened due to what is at stake.
“I do think it’s worth keeping on. The North versus South element is good. It’s attractive and it provides good competition, but it’s got to be worked at,” said Bohemians boss Pat Fenlon.
“There has been talk of bringing in more teams and going knock-out and I’d be in favour of that.”
At least someone within the game recognises that a change can be good. Whether more teams involved would work remains to be seen, but certainly a new structure needs to be designed.
Whilst attempting to keep warm on a cold Saturday afternoon, this column couldn’t help but think how it was such a shame that the match between Bohemians and Glentoran lacked a bit of spark.
After a largely forgettable first-half, the second period threatened to raise the excitement levels when the teams netted a goal each. Yet it never really took off and the fans who trotted out of Dalymount Park at full-time would have been fully justified if they felt just a little deflated from it all.
Isn’t this the same tournament that promised us exciting games between teams from both sides of the border? Well, I think I want my money back.
Okay, let’s not be too hasty. The semi-finals could turn out to be entertaining affairs, but even their two-legged format drags it all on for longer than it should. Where’s that knock-out blow that we want to see?
In order to make it a worthwhile competition, the organisers have to go back to basics and realise that the fans want to see the best against the best in games that count for something. Let’s get it sorted!
About Gareth Maher
Gareth Maher is an award-winning journalist who has covered domestic, international and women's football for the best part of a decade. Previously a columnist for the Irish Daily Mail and Football Editor for Setanta Sports, … View Full Profile