IT is the competition which proved boundaries can be crossed so it's perhaps harsh on those involved in the organisation of the Setanta Sports Cup that the draw for this year's renewal should be overshadowed by talk of an All-Ireland League.

But when you get football people from both sides of the border into the same room what follows is inevitable because, right now, it is the major talking point for all involved in the domestic game.

Opinions are divided. Generally, the traditionalists, both north and south, aren't quite sure if it is a plausible step forward. Take someone like Roy Coyle, for example, who has managed both Linfield and Derry City.

"I think there are too many imponderables to push through," he states. "I think there are too many people with vested interests. I honestly don't think it will happen although I'd love to see it."

So there is scepticism, yet still a significant degree of curiosity. And while FAI chief executive John Delaney -- who stated earlier this week that he would welcome the idea if both associations were involved -- was absent yesterday, his opposite number Howard Wells was present to offer forward his thoughts.

Perhaps conscious that the suggestion of a unified league has more opposition within his jurisdiction than Delaney has encountered, Wells was instead cagily insisting that Platinum One -- who are driving the AIL innovation -- must come forward with a clearly-defined business plan.

"Any competition changes that are domestic have to come through the governing bodies and be properly analysed by the governing bodies," stated Wells.

"Neither John Delaney or I have seen a business plan or anything that might come forward and if there is I'd imagine both associations will examine it closely and work out our best interests."

"There'll have to be a fair amount of joint discussions before we'd consider whether anything like that would work," continued Wells, when asked specifically if he favoured the introduction.

"We'll discuss things openly and with an open mind but based on substance and based on fact and not speculation on people's concepts."

For now though, the Setanta Sports Cup is the only cross-border competition in town, although it is something of a different animal this year with the tournament split into the spring and autumn rather than being completed outright in the former period.

This is to try and make the northern clubs more competitive with the argument being that they have struggled -- Linfield aside -- to make an impact as playing Setanta games in February-April clashes with the business end of their campaign.

"The change suits Northern Ireland teams," says Linfield midfielder Conor Downey. "If you look at last season's final against Drogheda United -- and this is with no disrespect to Drogheda -- we had played something like 55 games by then.

"Drogheda had only played 10 or 12 games and I thought you could see it in our players that it was one game too many. So for us in the north, this new system is welcome although time will tell if is better for us."

Once again, Linfield have landed themselves in the archetypal 'Group of Death' along with arch rivals Glentoran, Derry City and St Patrick's Athletic.

Meanwhile, Drogheda will start the competition at home to Cliftonville on February 26. Cork City and Dungannon Swifts complete their section.

Next Fixture

Waterford / April 19th @ 7:45pm
Competition: League
Venue: Richmond Park
  Tweet #stpatsfc

Team	Pld	Pts
Shelbourne	10	21
Derry City	10	16
Shamrock Rovers	9	15
St Patrick's Athletic	10	14
Bohemian FC	9	13
Sligo Rovers	9	12
Waterford FC	10	12
Galway United FC	9	11
Drogheda United	9	8
Dundalk	9	4