The cup is back

[outspoken]

Absolutely no doubt the best team lost tonight Harps should have won 3/0 on the chances they missed in all honesty but we said the same thing Friday night so it was only fitting this fantastic cup tie went all the way to the death and out of all of my years following De Town tonight is right up there as one of my favourites ever as the players showed unbelievable character and strength to get the win and as soon as the winning peno went in every single player came over and hugged the fans that traveled. There were tears in some of the players eyes and it's the passion and care about the club you want to see from your players and also a big shout out to Tony Cousins who came over and thanked the fans for traveling and said the team really appreciate the support. A fantastic night to be a Town fan.

Also huge credit to harps ground staff for getting that game on, saw photos of the ground from a few hours before KO and there were large puddles on the pitch so to get it to the level of play they did was fantastic

[outspoken]

From a few reports Lorcan Shannon was very lucky not to see red tonight. Just watched Soccer Republic and Kaleem Simon was very lucky he didn't have his foot planted to the ground as it would surely of been broken. Near the end of the game Davy slid in on a loose ball from the keeper. I thought the ref booked him for that (which I thought was very harsh considering the keeper let it spill) but from seeing it on TV he booked him for pushing the Harps defender in the chest after that. Surely that should of been red? I know it wasn't the face but is a shove to the chest a red?

Lorcan was magic tonight he was never involved in anything to warrant a red card though so not sure where that report came from. Willie Tyrell was extremely lucky to stay on though he got away with a few mistimed tackles while on a yellow.

Referee was horrendous yet again. The amount of elbows right in front of the Lino not given was disgusting and lead to a mass brawl right in front of us

[Longfordian]

Shannon punched someone off the ball according to some Harps fans.

[outspoken]

Shannon punched someone off the ball according to some Harps fans.

Considering I was standing right in front of it let me tell you that idiot number 7 for Harps (who was throwing elbows all night) ran straight into Shannon to try and get him sent off, he went down as if he had been shot. The level of play acting and surrounding of officials by Harps over the 2 games is something I've never seen in LOI before, it wouldn't go a miss in El Classico.

[Sam_Heggy]

Shannon punched someone off the ball according to some Harps fans.

He def made contact with Mickey Funston off the ball, don't know if it was a punch though.

Agree re: Tyrell. He caught Tony McNamee on the edge of the box which should have been a nailed on yellow, then eventually got a yellow for another bad challenge. Had 2 more after that which he got away with.

Better team lost tonight but you don't get anywhere with moral victories. Longford held their bottle in the pens and that's the difference at the end of 210 minutes of football.

Most of our fans will say it's a blessing in disguise as we want promotion but they'd be lying if they said they didnt want to go through.

Best of luck in the next round, hopefully we'll have a few more battles next season in the league.

[Macy]

I thought the ref booked him for that (which I thought was very harsh considering the keeper let it spill) but from seeing it on TV he booked him for pushing the Harps defender in the chest after that. Surely that should of been red? I know it wasn't the face but is a shove to the chest a red?
It would've been a harsh red imo - there wasn't much to it, despite the way the Harps player went to ground.

[hollocaine]

Did TC rush Don Cowan back from injury too soon again?

[nigel-harps1954]

All in all, it was an incredibly enjoyable game. Both teams really went at it. Longford showed their experience, and their bottle and deservedly, over the course of both legs, came out on top. Harsh pill to swallow for Harps who matched them man for man in the second game.

What's most annoying though, the game that was in it deserved a better penalty shootout. Some of the penalties hit were very poor on both sides, but in the end, Hunt made the key saves needed and Harps absolutely miserable penalty record goes on.

What's the biggest thing I'd say for both sides, is the strength in depth of the squads. Both teams missed a couple of players and yet both put on a superb spectacle.

See yis in the Premier next season.

[outspoken]

Wouldn't say the penalties were poor at all, Martin Deady's winning penalty was the best Youl see anywhere, top corner. Incredible bottle.

[outspoken]

Did TC rush Don Cowan back from injury too soon again?

I don't think you can blame TC you could clearly see him asking Don at HT was he ready to play and Don looked adamant he was, plus Don and Sully went through the most intensive warm up I've ever seen, I thought they'd never come on. Just a mixture of bad luck and bad conditions. Don was devastated think it could be a while before we see him again.

[Martinho II]

for a match for very little away support-only a handful it was one of the enjoyable games in my lifetime. harps should have went through but near the end of fulltime they hit the post twice and hunty made a superb save. first half harps hit a cross near us which dipped and swerved dramatically and took an unnatural cause and hit the crossbar. but we showed incredible bottle and strength to go through. all our penos were super except for our missed one.

bravo to salmo and the lads who came over to us on the final whistle as we were under the pressbox and had to endure such torrid weather on the nite!

if we play at home in the next round I hope there will be a better atmosphere in section o and a better turnout in the stadium as we seem to take things for granted.the ground is like a morgue and for the cup match last weekend I dont know where everyone went to as for both games harps outsung us on the pitch. I hope it never happens again!