"Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it." We've more than likely butchered that quote but you get the idea. In the recent past, Sporting Fingal and, perhaps to a lesser extent, Dublin City have shone brightly before quickly using up every bit of fuel available to them and burning out in a blaze of financial unviability.
And now we have Cabinteely FC reaching for the effervescent star that is senior football in Ireland. Today, the FAI confirmed that the south Dublin outfit would be the eight team of a First Division that is due to start in little over a month's time. We've already taken a stab at explaining who Cabinteely are, but the question most people want answered is, why have a junior team been elevated to senior status, and why is it yet another Dublin team?
Tralee Dynamos have been suggested for quite a while, as have the Mayo League combined team. But instead of expanding the domestic game westwards, we now have six Dublin clubs (as well as Bray just over the border).
It would be difficult to argue that the FAI are pushing a Dublin-centric agenda because in reality, it's quite clear that no one else wanted the poisoned chalice. In introducing Cabinteely to the League, Fran Gavin talked of expressions of interest from elsewhere, but the obvious question is, how unworkable were those expressions of interest that Cabinteely were the only viable option?
There have been well wishes from many people, and well there should be, but as usual when the domestic game is in the spotlight, the most apparent reaction has been one of bemusement.
So Cabinteely it is. I give it the length of a Tom Cruise marriage. #loi
— Richie McCormåck (@RichieMcCormack) January 28, 2015
Cabinteely FC wow, just what the league needs a club with no fans and little chance of ever getting any.
— Thomas Kilfeather (@TomKilfeather) January 28, 2015
At least most seem to agree that Cabinteely joining the #LOI is ridiculous. More bought into the Sporting Fingal farce.
— Luke O'Riordan (@luke_oriordan) January 28, 2015
@Cunneen92 @Cabinteely_FC really doubt the long term viability of this. Hope it does not fall over and impact excellent underage structure
— Declan McGrath (@andosleftfoot) January 28, 2015
Like most in the LOI community I wish Cabinteely the best, but like most I doubt they'll last more than a season. Another stopgap for Div 1
— Dermot Looney (@dlooney) January 28, 2015
@ballsdotie And here is a crude rough guide to the venues. The West of Ireland not faring too well. https://t.co/ZTmXA69HuT …
— Cormac O'Malley (@cormacpro) January 28, 2015
The fact the Cabinteely aren't even in Football Manager when Sligo/Leitrim junior teams are shows watta joke this is #FuckTheFai
— Cheddar Plunkett (@FreeTheTinman) January 28, 2015
@luke_oriordan Bad enough that to a fair degree Bray & UCD were feeding off a small pool, not even crumbs leftover for Cabinteely.
— Sean Heffernan (@D24Socialist) January 28, 2015
If, as @emmetmalone's piece the other day suggested, Cabinteely really were the only applicants for that licence, it's all very depressing.
— Richie McCormåck (@RichieMcCormack) January 28, 2015
Obviously enough no one wants to see Cabinteely fail. From all accounts, they have a solid administrative set-up and with Eddie Gormley at the helm, they will have a lot of well wishes but there's no denying the reality of the situation. If the club are surviving in the league in five years time, it will be one of the most remarkable stories that has happened in Irish football.
