Setanta Sports Cup to be expanded
The Setanta Sports Cup is set for a major revamp next season, with the tournament set to be expanded and played as a knock-out competition.
The Setanta Sports Cup Organising Committee has unveiled plans to expand the number of clubs in the competition to 12 which will see the competition double in size from its inaugural season in 2005.
Six clubs from the Airtricity League and six clubs from the Carling Premiership will be invited to compete in the 2011 Setanta Sports Cup.
Clubs who finish in the top four positions in the Airtricity League and Carling Premiership will be invited to participate, along with the winners of both major domestic cup competitions.
The format of the tournament will shift from being group-based to becoming a knockout competition.
The 2011 Setanta Sports Cup will kick-off in February and conclude in May and will be played over four rounds.
All rounds, with the exception of the final, will be played over two legs.
The first round will commence in early February, with eight clubs taking part in that stage of the tournament.
The two league champions, FAI Ford Cup winners and JJB Sports Cup winners will receive byes into the quarter-final stage.
