A Linfield supporter is escorted from the ground before Tuesday's Setanta Cup match between St Patrick's Athletic and Linfield at Inchicore

THERE'S a theory in domestic football circles that the game here will only ever grab the front pages when it's a bad news story and espousers of that doctrine will feel justified in that assertion this week.

Those who attended Tuesday night's Setanta Sports Cup game between St Patrick's Athletic and Linfield have been surprised and angered by the publicity and photographs that have emerged in the aftermath. Inside Richmond Park, fans enjoying the game were largely oblivious to any skirmishes.

But clashes between visiting fans and gardai before kick-off, apparently arising over problems with forged tickets at the turnstiles, have commanded widespread attention and raised awareness that extensive police personnel was necessary to deal with the game in the first place.

At a time when Fintan Drury's Platinum One Group are strongly pushing an All-Ireland League, such instances at matches in a cross-border competition lead people to ask if such a concept is viable, with a suspicion that the spectre of such horrific images will always potentially be around the next corner.

Others believe such talk is scaremongering, but in the context of this latest event, it's worth examining where the idea stands.

1 What are the main arguments for an All-Ireland League?

The arguments are relatively straightforward. Both leagues, north and south, have their problems although the latter is definitely developing quicker in terms of professionalism. However, getting punters through the gate and, more pertinently, big-money sponsors remains a problem.

A fully professional league with 10 well-supported clubs is thought to be more commercially viable than what currently exists and, by extension, the standard of football would be better. Tuesday night's on-pitch action was thrilling stuff, although one-sided in favour of the hosts.

As some of the bigger League of Ireland clubs put it, with all due respect to the smaller fish singled out, is it easier to drum up interest in St Patrick's Athletic v Glentoran or St Patrick's Athletic v Linfield than St Patrick's Athletic v UCD or St Patrick's Athletic v Cobh? For them, it's a no contest.

There are also community bridge building aspects, with both governments thought to be keen on the idea.

2 What are the principal arguments against the concept?

Firstly, there are the political football ones. As Linfield boss David Jeffrey said on Tuesday night: "If you've got one league you've got to have one governing body.

"At this moment in time we have eight clubs in Europe, if you have one governing body you suddenly have four. That would be like turkeys voting for Christmas. Never mind the other implications regarding national team, national stadium and whatever else."

Then, we come to security issues. Disturbances, however minor, at recent games involving Linfield and Glentoran in Dublin prompt questions of whether people need this hassle on a regular basis.

Also, rather than being attracted to games by the better fare on offer, getting herded around by a large police presence is not attractive to fans -- particularly a family audience -- who may instead opt to stay at home feeling that it would be unsafe to venture out.

Gardai will also ask questions about the security cost of such operations, even if taxpayers are footing the bill.

3 Some have viewed it as a trial for an

All-Ireland League, so has the Setanta Cup been a security nightmare?

The short answer is no. The competition has been in existence for four years and, yes, there have been isolated flashpoints but if a few stumbling blocks were a reason to give up on anything then there wouldn't be a Good Friday Agreement.

Much as everyone would like it to be the case, the reality is that football fans from north and south will never be freely allowed to mingle and share sandwiches from car boots like GAA supporters.

Nevertheless, strong links between Linfield and Drogheda, to name just one example, have been built up through this competition. With two groups of people from very different cultural backgrounds -- albeit with much in common through football -- growing understanding will take time. As always, it's the actions of a minority that drag down the rest.

The counterpoint is that the biggest test will not be encountered until Bohs and Shamrock Rovers qualify for the competition. Both clubs have a youthful minority of 'fans' that cause trouble -- hence the police frenzy that surrounds their clashes -- so any game between either club and Linfield would be subject to the same attention as Tuesday night.

Those games would need to pass by smoothly, not just once, but on a regular basis to convince that an AIL is viable.

4 What are the obstacles to these problems being overcome?

The fact that difficulties surrounded the visits of Glentoran and Linfield to Inchicore has led to St Patrick's Athletic unfairly finding themselves in the headlines.

Bar a few teenagers, who seemed to be Celtic fans rather than Saints followers, the behaviour of their supporters on Tuesday was excellent. They were too busy savouring a wonderful performance from their players.

Alas, this is where the issue of facilities comes in. The reason that such a heavy security presence was necessary, with cops closing off roads and bus routes changed, is because Richmond Park only has one significant main exit and one smaller one which both come out onto the same street.

Segregation is a fact of life in football in the UK and has to be taken seriously here. The difference is that each ground has a properly designated away section and enough exits and entrances to ensure that logistically, contact between rival supporters near the grounds is practically impossible so the same level of policing is not required.

The main concern before the Setanta Sports Cup was about Derry City being able to compete without troubles.

While there have been some problems with supporters buses well away from stadia, what's transpired through preparation is that a large number of Derry fans can now travel to Windsor Park with no hint of trouble because the stadium is equipped to ensure things can pass off peacefully.

5 So where does the proposed All-Ireland League stand?

power brokers in the proposed Platinum One All-Ireland League were unavailable for comment yesterday but this question relates not just to their specific plan, but the concept as a whole -- be it the FAI or the IFA driving it -- or a separate group. Issues of power and politics in the blazer-wearing world are a story for another day.

In terms of security, though, Tuesday night's disturbances are no reason to give up on anything. What is clear is that any notion that such a league could be possible by next year is fanciful to say the least.

Sadly, the majority of the grounds and surrounding areas do not have developed enough facilities to deal with the idiotic fringe elements latched onto or not even associated with participating clubs and therefore heavy policing would always be required.

With that comes photographs of riot cops, dramatic over reactions and we're back to square one again. If the commitment is ever made to go down the route of an All-Ireland League then there's really no turning back.

It's too soon now to consider starting that journey, but it's far too early to abandon ever making it.