08-07-2025
Ex-Shels captain's radical all-Ireland proposal ahead of Champions League tie
The last man to captain Shelbourne in an all-island European tie hopes that the upcoming Shels-Linfield Champions League clash can lead to a return of regular cross-border action.
And Owen Heary believes a radical expansion of the FAI Cup could be the way to go - rather than the development of a brand new tournament.
It's a bold suggestion that would no doubt raise eyebrows on both sides of the border, and throw up logistical issues, such as the two different calendars and allocation of European spots.
And that's before you consider how politically fraught at an FAI and IFA level the proposal of a merger between the FAI Cup and Irish Cup would be - particularly when past efforts to form an all-island league have fallen by the wayside.
Yet Heary, who scored in a 6-2 aggregate win over Glentoran 20 years ago in the Champions League, would love to see more cross-border cooperation - and at the highest level.
'Wouldn't it be great if the FAI Cup became an all-island cup? It would be brilliant to have an all-Ireland cup with all the teams involved,' Heary told Mirror Sport.
'You pick one stadium to play in one year - whether it's the Aviva or Windsor Park - and then the other stadium the next year.
'Rather than invent a new competition, why not put all the teams into one. You think about it, it's four games and you are into a Cup final here.
'So imagine having a bigger tournament, bigger games, and then the two teams that get to the final have to play a lot more games to get there. It would make it a more interesting tournament.
'You can keep the non-league teams south of the border for the preliminary rounds, the same with the teams from the north, and then after so many rounds it's an open draw for everyone.'
The Glentoran game, which Shels won 6-2 on aggregate, came just two months after the Tolka Park side lost 2-0 to tomorrow night's opponents Linfield in the first ever Setanta Sports Cup final.
The cross-border competition, which was wildly popular in its early years, in part because of the huge prize-money at stake, lasted for nine editions before disagreements over fixture scheduling led to it being abandoned after the 2014 edition.
A Champions Cup decider - named Unite the Union Champions Cup after its sponsors - took place over two legs between Dundalk and Linfield in 2019, with the Lilywhites running out 7-1 winners on aggregate.
Click this link or scan the QR code to receive the latest League of Ireland news and top stories from the Irish Mirror. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Since then, there has been just one competitive meeting between teams from north and south of the border - and that was Shamrock Rovers' 4-1 Europa Conference League win over Larne in Windsor Park last year.
'The Setanta Cup was brilliant,' Heary said. 'Those games were great occasions. It was a great tournament.
'It's just a pity that it didn't continue on, because for the players it was a really interesting tournament to be involved in.
'I keep cursing that I missed the first final (against Linfield in 2005), because of two yellow cards. I still remember them.
'For one of them, I was walking backwards and I fell over a player, and the referee booked me. I was like, you're joking me! Then in the semis, Nutsy (Pat Fenlon) was like, don't get a yellow card, you'll be suspended.
'No intention, I didn't do anything wrong, I was done for time-wasting and it wasn't even me. I was like, f**k sake.
'But these things happen. It was horrible just standing there watching Linfield beat us 2-0 in Tolka Park, especially in the first ever Setanta Cup final.'
He added: 'Money-wise, when you think about it, back then when we were winning the league, it was 18 grand to win the league, but it was 180 grand to win the Setanta Cup. It was a massive difference.
'That's why it was such a big tournament for the League of Ireland clubs to be in.'
Heary still has vivid memories of the night that Glentoran arrived at Tolka Park.
'That was my first Champions League goal, I think. A header, the first goal of the game,' he said.
'It eased the nerves, even though I don't think there were any nerves, because we had a good team and we beat them up there.
'I crossed the ball for Jay (Jason Byrne) to score with a header, and I crossed for Crowey (Glen Crowe) to score with a volley.
'These games are probably more enjoyable for fans in Ireland than getting a team from Slovakia or Slovenia, because you know there is going to be a really good atmosphere.
'Linfield will bring big support to Tolka Park and likewise when Shels go up there. It's like a Dublin derby, it's bragging rights.
'That's what I think Wednesday's game is going to be like for Shels.'
That 6-2 aggregate win set the Reds up for a second round clash with Steaua Bucharest - the last time Shels played a Champions League game at Tolka Park.
'If you told me then that Shels wouldn't be in the Champions League for another 20 years, I wouldn't have believed you,' said Heary.
'Now they have the chance to hear the Champions League music being blasted out over the tannoy again, and against a team from the north, which makes it even more interesting.
'You want to be in the Champions League, you want to walk out hearing that Champions League music.
'It's something to cherish, because you don't know when it will come around. You are representing the league, you are representing the club, but more importantly you need to get a good result to take it up to Windsor Park.
'I wouldn't mind being one of those players again, walking out to that music, getting ready to go to battle.'
