Setanta Sports has renewed its sponsorship of the cross border soccer competition that has borne its name since being introduced in 2005.
The Setanta Sports Cup pitches four teams from each of the Airtricity League and the Danske Bank into a tournament that ended a near 20 year gap in competition between the two Leagues.
In 2014 holders Shamrock Rovers will be joined by St Patrick’s Athletics, Sligo Rovers and, for the second time Dundalk. Linfield and Cliftonville declined the invitation to participate, citing scheduling of fixtures as a concern, and the North will now be represented by Crusaders, Glentoran, Coleraine and for the first time Ballinamallard United.
The renewed sponsorship will run for three years to 2016 and Setanta Sports will also feature live and highlights coverage of the games.
The eventual winners will walk away with prize money of around €30,000 in addition to the extra gate receipts and exposure which the games will generate.
“In the summer we announced a deal to bring the BT Sport and ESPN channels into our Setanta Sports pack in the Republic of Ireland,” said Setanta Sports Marketing Director Brian Quinn. “This has given us a platform to be able to return as the sponsor and broadcaster of the Setanta Sports Cup and to continue to invest in Irish football.”
Ballinamallard will play St Pat’s in the first leg of the Quarter finals on February 24th and the competition will run through March and April in a knock out format.
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