The Tyler Cup was an association football competition played between clubs in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The competition ran from 1978 to 1980, and was similar to the earlier Blaxnit Cup, North-South Cup, Dublin and Belfast Intercity Cup, or the Setanta Sports Cup inaugurated in the 2000s.[1]

Tyler Cup
Organising bodyIrish Football Association
Football Association of Ireland
Founded1978
Abolished1980
RegionNorthern Ireland Northern Ireland
Republic of Ireland Republic of Ireland
Most successful club(s)Shamrock Rovers
Athlone Town
Linfield
(1 title each)

Format

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The tournament began late in the 1977–78 season, before skipping a year and returning for the 1979–80 season. It ran again, for the last time, at the beginning of the 1980–81 season and was sponsored by a footwear company. The format for the first competition involved four teams from each country taking part in a knock-out first round, then semi-finals and a final. All ties were decided by a single match and the tournament was won by Shamrock Rovers.[2][3] For the second and third seasons eight teams from each country took part. Again it was a knock-out with a first round, quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final. The final was over two legs but the preceding matches were all single ties. These two editions were won by Athlone Town[4][5][6][7] and Linfield[8][9][10] respectively.

List of finals

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[11]

Season Winner
(number of titles)
Score Runner-up Venue
1977–78   Shamrock Rovers (1) 1 – 0   Finn Harps Glenmalure Park, Dublin
1978–79 Tournament not held
1979–80   Athlone Town (1) 2 – 0   Drogheda United St Mel's Park, Athlone
2 – 1 (3 – 2 agg.) United Park, Drogheda
1980–81   Linfield (1) 0 – 0   Athlone Town Windsor Park, Belfast
2 – 1 (2 – 1 agg.) St Mel's Park, Athlone
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References

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  1. ^ "Irish League Archive, Tyler Cup". Irish League Archive. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Lynex Header Sees Rovers Through!". Irish Press. 18 May 1978. p. 16.
  3. ^ "Another Title For Giles' Men". Irish Independent. 18 May 1978. p. 13.
  4. ^ "Athlone Go Two Up In Tyler". Irish Independent. 7 September 1979. p. 10.
  5. ^ "Athlone Well In Command". Irish Press. 7 September 1979. p. 12.
  6. ^ "Athlone's Joy Night". Irish Independent. 13 September 1979. p. 16.
  7. ^ "Salmon Poaches It For Athlone!". Irish Press. 13 September 1979. p. 11.
  8. ^ "It's One Big Bore". Ireland's Saturday Night. 9 August 1980. p. 1.
  9. ^ "McCurdy at the double". Belfast Telegraph. 14 August 1980. p. 27.
  10. ^ "Trophy For Linfield". Irish Independent. 14 August 1980. p. 14.
  11. ^ "Tyler Cup Results". Irish League Archive. Retrieved 29 April 2023.