Setanta Cup draw postponed

The launch of the competition was to be held in the FAI HQ in Abbotstown, Dublin on Thursday, but it was revealed by Craig Stanfield, IFA Football Operations Manager on Tuesday night that it had been cancelled with no further details.

Glenavon are set to make their first appearance in the All-Ireland event but only if a condition is met by the organisers.

The four League of Ireland teams have been given dates on which they will play - no matter if they are home or away. It could mean a trip to Cork City on Monday, June 22 - if Glenavon landed that draw they wanted the game played on Saturday, June 20.

“We are happy to take part in what would be our first Setanta Cup, but the whole competition seems to be totally geared to wards the League of Ireland clubs,” said Glenavon chairman Adrian Teer.

“We have been in contact with the IFA by email and explained that a midweek game at Cork would not suit us and in the case of us getting that draw we would play the game on the Saturday. If they cannot meet this request then we may have to withdraw.”

Along with Glenavon the three other Irish League clubs entered are Crusaders, Glentoran and Portadown. The four League of Ireland clubs are Dundalk, St. Pat’s Athletic, Shamrock Rovers and Cork City. The competition is on a knock-out basis and the prize money schedule is as follows:

Winners €30,000; runners-up €15,000. Other six teams €4,000. A subsidy of €1,000 will be paid to the away team in the Cork City fixture to assist with travel costs.