Setanta result shows All-Ireland league wouldn't work, but is it time to change the competition once more?
Credit:
Shamrock Rovers became the fifth name to be engraved on the Setanta Sports Cup on Saturday night when they defeated Dundalk 2-0, but this year’s cross-border competition only proves further that an All-Ireland league wouldn’t work.
The Lilywhites comfortably defeated three Irish League sides en route to the final, while Shamrock Rovers also comfortably swept Lisburn Distillery aside in the quarter-finals. Apart from in the first round, where St Patrick’s Athletic, Bohemians and UCD were defeated by Cliftonville, Portadown and Lisburn respectively, there was no other victory for a side north of the border over LoI opposition.
Currently, there appears to be a massive gulf in class between the two leagues and if the top teams from either side of the border were brought together, then it doesn’t seem likely that a team from the Carling Premiership would pip an Airtricity League team to the post.
In addition, both Pat’s and the Students treated those games very much as pre-season games, while Bohs fielded plenty of new faces for the first time against Portadown. As the competition wore on, the difference in quality was quite clear with LoI sides improving.
Rovers showed that having a gigantic squad pays-off as they utilised it fully to strike seven past Lisburn over two-legs and another four past last season’s knockout kingpins Sligo Rovers. They have now joined two time winners Drogheda United, Cork City, Bohemians and Linfield in the roll of honour. But do you see a pattern there?
Yeah, Linfield are the only team from the North to have won the competition – defeating Shelbourne in the inaugural year, 2005. Meanwhile, of four teams to reach a final but not win, you can add another three LoI sides (Shels, St Pat’s and Dundalk), but just Glentoran from the Irish League.
While I would be in favour of uniting both leagues somewhere down the line, and off the field it is still, in my own worthless opinion, a genius idea, there would be regular hammerings dealt out to by the likes of the Hoops to some sides across the border.
Meanwhile, the competition, despite efforts to restructure it is still quite stale. Personally, I will never forget former Cork City midfielder Joe Gamble’s post-match rant after losing to Linfield in Windsor Park, but the past three years has seen some lacklustre contests.
The Hoops have had some bumper attendances at league games in Tallaght, but look at their home tie against Lisburn back in March, which drew just 785, and it shows you the interest fans have in the early stages of the competition.
Sadly, it appears the organising committee have exorcised almost all avenues at this stage to improve how the competition is perceived by the passing fan.
From a fans point of view, how would you go about making the Setanta Cup a success? Post your ideas below and we can look at how you think it should be both marketed and structured.
The Lilywhites comfortably defeated three Irish League sides en route to the final, while Shamrock Rovers also comfortably swept Lisburn Distillery aside in the quarter-finals. Apart from in the first round, where St Patrick’s Athletic, Bohemians and UCD were defeated by Cliftonville, Portadown and Lisburn respectively, there was no other victory for a side north of the border over LoI opposition.
Currently, there appears to be a massive gulf in class between the two leagues and if the top teams from either side of the border were brought together, then it doesn’t seem likely that a team from the Carling Premiership would pip an Airtricity League team to the post.
In addition, both Pat’s and the Students treated those games very much as pre-season games, while Bohs fielded plenty of new faces for the first time against Portadown. As the competition wore on, the difference in quality was quite clear with LoI sides improving.
Rovers showed that having a gigantic squad pays-off as they utilised it fully to strike seven past Lisburn over two-legs and another four past last season’s knockout kingpins Sligo Rovers. They have now joined two time winners Drogheda United, Cork City, Bohemians and Linfield in the roll of honour. But do you see a pattern there?
Yeah, Linfield are the only team from the North to have won the competition – defeating Shelbourne in the inaugural year, 2005. Meanwhile, of four teams to reach a final but not win, you can add another three LoI sides (Shels, St Pat’s and Dundalk), but just Glentoran from the Irish League.
While I would be in favour of uniting both leagues somewhere down the line, and off the field it is still, in my own worthless opinion, a genius idea, there would be regular hammerings dealt out to by the likes of the Hoops to some sides across the border.
Meanwhile, the competition, despite efforts to restructure it is still quite stale. Personally, I will never forget former Cork City midfielder Joe Gamble’s post-match rant after losing to Linfield in Windsor Park, but the past three years has seen some lacklustre contests.
The Hoops have had some bumper attendances at league games in Tallaght, but look at their home tie against Lisburn back in March, which drew just 785, and it shows you the interest fans have in the early stages of the competition.
Sadly, it appears the organising committee have exorcised almost all avenues at this stage to improve how the competition is perceived by the passing fan.
From a fans point of view, how would you go about making the Setanta Cup a success? Post your ideas below and we can look at how you think it should be both marketed and structured.
About Alan Smith
Alan Smith works as a sub-editor for the Guardian newspaper in London. Originally from Cork, he freelances for several other newspapers and websites. Follow him on twitter @alansmith90. View Full Profile