Dublin Super Cup MIGHT help Irish football:

2011 DUBLIN SUPER CUP:   opportunity to showcase the Airtricity League

This isn't a time to turn one's nose up at the Dublin Super Cup.  Instead, it should be embraced by fans of the Airtricity League (of Ireland) who crave a much-needed injection of recognition and investment in the domestic game.  Next month's tournament will see Inter Milan, Manchester City and Glasgow Celtic arrive at the AVIVA Stadium with Damien Richardson's carefully selected legion of Ireland based players fighting for a share of the global spotlight.

Damien Richardson will hope his charges can be competitive

Set to be beamed around the world, in 3D, no less - it is a showcase that allows the Republic of Ireland's top league to reach an audience it normally would never get near, the Sky Sports, bar stool generation that is.  I was going to type the  "Republic of Ireland's top professional league," in that last sentence, however; over the last two years and due to the deepening recession in Ireland; the top level of football is semi-professional at best; shamateaur at worst.

STAR ATTRACTION:2010 Champions League winners Inter Milan

This tournament puts Irish clubs not alone in the same shop as Europe's elite; but on the same shelf as three of Europe's top level brands that are usually gobbled up by football enthusiasts; fans who know more about Manchester United's reserve team 'keeper than who is top scorer in the Airtricity League.  A moment of magic from Dundalk winger Daniel Kearns or yet another special from league champions' Karl Sheppard could go some way to changing that though.  The quality of football in this league is massively overlooked and by making the most of this tournament, neutral fans will see that it is not that bad at all.

Selling the league to those fans flocking to see the opposing teams is key.  And the best way to do that is by offering concessions to upcoming league games and pointing them in the right direction of the next Kevin Doyle or Seamus Coleman.

Once in, fickle as these fans are, there is a chance that they just might stick around.