KevK

DERRY CITY WIN AT CELTIC PARK 🔥🔴⚪

IS IT TIME TO REVIVE THE “SETANTA” CUP? One of the central themes since IFBs inception has been my desire for a joint up “All Island League”…. That would require egos being parked from both sides of the isle in the hope of a more prosperous future for Irish Football! In 2019 businessman Kieran Lucid launched ambitious plans for an “All Island League” but it failed to pick up the needed momentum. For me, I think this was the much needed step to collectively rise standards when it comes to. Standard of Football ✅ Prize Money ✅ Marketing ✅ Interest ✅ So on and so forth… But realistically, egos from certain stakeholders won’t allow this to occur. And with plans in place for an expanding of the tiers South of the Border. Realistically though I’d much rather an All Island League. Maybe a revive of the “Setanta” Cup could be in order? In 2005 the Cup launched as an ambitious cross border tournament for FAI and IFA clubs. Sponsored by broadcaster Setanta Sports, it ran for 9 seasons from 2005-2014 with the last final in 2015 before being disbanded. Facts Started with 6 → grew to 8–12 → back to 8. Format: Groups Knockouts changed to qualifiers & quarters. 🏆 LOI = 7 IFA = 2 (Linfield + Crusaders) There were issues: - Rivalries/ Sectarian Tension - Low Crowds outside of Derbies - Setanta went bust, tanking prize money which led to funding issues. - Northern clubs withdrew due to scheduling problems. A lot of has changed since, including the post Covid 19 bounce particularly in the LOI. I see it in the reactions to our content the appetite is there. We’ve also seen the Women’s All Island Cup start since 2023. For me I don’t see the difference in “standard” being pronounced enough to be an issue. Yes, the top LOI sides are superior (see slides) but I think it would be on the whole competitive. Scheduling for me is the greatest issue to resolve. The LOI season runs from February until October/early November. Then we have one of the longest off-seasons in Europe. We don’t even have the League Cup anymore! The Irish League season then runs from August until May. So where to schedule it? That is the question. Expand the season? The European Window?