WELL, we've been here before. With all the off-field turmoil that takes place for the sake of Irish football, it's often easy to forget that some Irish football actually takes place. And so, the Setanta Cup . . . as well as the new season . . . kicks off tomorrow very much as the side story to the trouble at Tolka.

At least, with Shelbourne appearing to reluctantly accept their fate in the First Division and assume some stability with the return of Dermot Keely, they can finally concentrate on getting a squad together ahead of Wednesday's transfer deadline. The rest of us can turn to the first competition they were forced to leave behind.

For, just as Shelbourne's travails have overshadowed the Setanta Cup this year, their consequent departure has also shaped it.

When the draw was made back in December, the deposit of their bloated squad in the seemingly easier Group Two left the competition looking lopsided, with a route set out for Shelbourne to add the trophy to that of the Premier Division. Now, with that squad dispersed and St Patrick's Athletic taking its place, the weight has shifted.

Group One not only contains the favourites Derry City as well as the last two champions in Linfield and Drogheda United, but also something of a back story. For the second year in succession, Derry have been drawn with Linfield and Belfast neighbours Glentoran.

The only other similarities between last season and this, however, should be that it again sees Glentoran languishing and a Pat Fenlon side through. While Derry were edged out last year . . . by Linfield and, of course, Shelbourne . . . this season should see them assert a new-found superiority. Having gained the expertise of Fenlon from Tolka Park, as well as Dave Rogers and Greg O'Halloran, they've maintained a good deal of continuity to their squad in comparison to most Eircom League sides. An already potent attack has also been augmented by Karl Bermingham and Kyle Moran.

That will leave Drogheda and Linfield fighting it out for the second semi-final spot, a position that could go a long way to being settled in the competition's first televised game at United Park tomorrow.

Strength in depth sees Linfield top the Carnegie League at the moment, but without their typical momentum and, with Drogheda bolstering a coming squad with astute signings such as Ollie Cahill and Stuart Byrne, the feeling is that the Northern champions will need to take advantage of their greater minutes of competitive football this year. Glentoran, meanwhile, who topped their league by five points and looked so impressive when the Setanta Cup draw was made, have fallen away and look likely to be once again no more than makeweights.

Which, ultimately should also be the status of the Group Two qualifiers. Shelbourne's absence has left something of a vacuum here and, in truth, could well see one of the competition's weaker sides into the last four. Cork, ostensibly the likeliest candidates to top the group, should take a while to settle considering they must essentially build a new defence with Neal Horgan, Alan Bennett and Danny Murphy all departed. While the loss of the dynamism in George O'Callaghan and Neale Fenn is compensated for by the class of Colin Healy and Gareth Farrelly, gone too is the sense of assurance around them.

St Patrick's Athletic are on equally uneven footing given that this is their debut in the competition, although the experience of Gary O'Neill and Joseph Ndo should steady them. It will more than likely be one of those two in the semi-finals with Portadown, whose resolute defence should see them improve on last season's paltry three points. Dungannon will do no more than occupy a similar place to Glentoran, having fallen to mid-table in the Carnegie League this season.

For all that though, Drogheda's surprise victory last year showed how difficult this competition can be to predict, given that it comes at such a peculiar time of year for both leagues. A good run at the right from one of the midstrength sides and it'll really open up. Still, it's hard to see past Derry.

A different name on the trophy . . . at least that's something new after a week that's become all too familiar.

SETANTA CUP DROGHEDA UNITED v LINFIELD
Tomorrow, United Park, 8.00 Live, Setanta