What sort of Irish Senior Cup do we want?
Over the years the Irish Senior Cup has grown into the premier club competition in Ireland. Success in the competition provides the only real gauge of club performance across the whole island and in recent times the annual final has become one of the highlights of the club season. But notwithstanding the success it has hadquestions are being asked about it’s structure, which has hardly changed since the competition started in 1982.
A brief flurry of interest in changing the format of the ISC earlier this year led to a draft proposal from Cricket Ireland to introduce an eight section ‘four team’ first round, followed by knockout stage starting with the quarter finals. In the event a number of concerns were raised about the new format and it was decided to postpone the introduction of changes, if any, for a year. In the meantime there would be consultation with unions, clubs and players to see what type of competition that people actually wanted.
In the interests of starting the debate we invite submissions on a new format [or amendments to the existing format]. Anyone who wants can send it an outline of what they think would be the best structure for the competition and why they thingk it is better that the existing or alternative formats.
To get the ball rolling a modest proposal is included below.
There should be a clearer focus on what we want the competition to achieve. Should it be based on FA Cup in the UK, opening its doors to as many teams as possible and keeping live the possibility of upsets as minnows take on larger clubs. Or would it be better to model it on the European Competitions in rugby and soccer, a meeting place for the top teams. The proposal below favours the latter approach.
Let us start by outlining some possible objectives:
- the ISC should be seen as the top club competition involving all the main unions with participation determined by performance in the previous season,
- competition for places in the competition the following year should be used to create greater interest in the placing in the respective union league competitions,
- four team sections in the first round will create the conditions for the best teams to go forward. But as far as possible the format should ensure that matches do not become ‘dead rubbers’.
- subject to their being sufficient interest among clubs, the format should be extended to a second and even a third tier.
- the profile of the competition should be raised [e.g. use of live scoring, more coverage on websites etc] so that it is attractive to a sponsor.
So what is proposed.
A 16 team competition with four sections of four teams each.
The winners and runners up from each section go through to the QF with the four top teams getting a home draw and 1st playing 8th, 2nd playing 7th and so on. Exact placings would be based on agreed formula e.g. net run rate.
QF/SF and Finals would be played on a knockout basis with a reserve day and a bowl out as the last resort if no play is possible on the second attempt.
A second tier of the next 16 club teams would use the same format. The remaining clubs would participate in the National Cup as currently constituted for the moment but this could in time become a third tier.
Who would be eligible to participate. There are a number of ways this could be determined but the following is suggested:
[a] the four top teams in the ‘premier’ leagues of the LCU, NWCU and NCU,
the top team in Munster
[c] the winner and runner up in the previous years competition
[d] the winner of the tier 2 competition from the previous year. In the first year the 16th place will have to be determined by play-off or lot from the fifth teams of the three main leagues, providing that they have not already qualified [see below].
Where a club qualifies automatically through performance in the previous year’s ISC then the next placed club in the relevant league would get a place. So if two NCU teams contested the final then for the following year there would be at least six NCU teams in the competition.
Finally, if a sponsor is found for the competition, then the proceeds should be used to defray some of the costs taken on by clubs in order to participate.
The lines are now open for any other suggestions. Send them to admin@cricketleinster.ie and we will put them up. You have until the end of January.