Town v Harps

**rossi_eire** · 12/05/2013, 7:52 PM

It was an entertaining game last night. Finn Harps finished their chances and deservedly won. McCarron looks a player. Longford enjoyed their best periods in the opening 15 and last 15. Salmon had a poor first half by his standards but recovered in the second to almost inspire us to an unlikely point. Quinn was unlucky to be substituted (it could have been anyone) and his replacement Nkolo looked a player short on confidence on the night. This was not helped by Gillespie who took every chance to berate him!

I thought it was interesting to see FH manager, Peter Hutton guiding some of his more inexperienced defenders through periods of pressure in the first half. They benefited from his experience. Despite conceding two late goals, keeping O'Sullivan off the scoresheet is no mean feat!

There were a number of contentious calls by Mr Grant. A definite pen for a foul on Purdy was waved on. This was followed by a FH breakaway and instead of potentially heading into the break at 1-1, McHugh made it 2-0. A game changer. A dangerous tackle on Tyrrell was also left unpunished.

Haverty, for me, was our best player. I have noticed a tendency for opposing teams to attack our other defensive areas than take him on. He also continues to bomb forward with varying success, but always asking questions of the opposition.

Here's hoping, we'll be back to winning ways on Sat

**Martinho II** · 12/05/2013, 8:14 PM

Originally Posted by outspoken

Just read a tweet from an Athlone fan indicating that Noel McGee has signed 4 Longford, cant be true can it!

from my reading of it we offered him a deal in preseason and he turned us down as he had no desire to play for us.I cant see anything changin on this front. From what I have heard he will go back to St Peters but him and Roddy are not gettin on!

**nigel-harps1954** · 12/05/2013, 8:31 PM

Originally Posted by rossi_eire

I thought it was interesting to see FH manager, Peter Hutton guiding some of his more inexperienced defenders through periods of pressure in the first half. They benefited from his experience. Despite conceding two late goals, keeping O'Sullivan off the scoresheet is no mean feat!

Quite simply, the reason we've had such a tight defence this year is Hutton. Thomas McMonagle came in last year and looked terrible for the first half of the season, many fans calling for him to be booted out of the club.
Huttons guidance saw him named March player of the month, and was runner up in April player of the month despite missing half the month through injury. Been our best player this season.
Keith Cowans first spell with the club was not successful, playing largely reserve football and not able to break into the First team, not rated by fans or the staff.
Bulked up, listened to Hutton, and is now one of the top centre halves in the Division in my opinion.
Damien McNulty signed this year, and in pre season, and the first few games, looked awful, dodgy, and all over the place. Past few games he's settling in, and looking like a quality player.

Defence last night,
Gallagher 21
Doherty 24
Cowan 28
McNulty 20
McMonagle 20.

That's a really young defence by any standards.

The average age of the Harps starting team altogether last night was only just over 23. A great mix of youth and experience is the key to the change in fortunes. With great strength in depth, we're looking like a real promotion challenge for the first time since 2007.

Wonderful to be a Harps fan at the minute.

**Town Legend** · 14/05/2013, 12:11 AM

When I seen who was reffing it I knew the writing was on the wall for us. He was the fourth official in Wexford who was constantly at Cousins to get back in his box and telling the Town players to calm down yet he blatantly refused to even look at the Wexford manager who spent the entire 90 mins outside his box.....even after us letting him know about it!!! And on the Tyrell 'tackle' which happened not far from us, the Town players were looking for a rightful free when Mr. Grant claimed 'the Harps player won the ball', then Sammo pointed out that it should be 'at least a corner' then to which Mr. Grant replied 'it's a goal kick'!!! He's a disgrace of an excuse of a referee.

**nigel-harps1954** · 14/05/2013, 12:33 AM

By the way. All this chat about the official. Harps actually left Thomas McBride out of the match day squad because he has a grudge against him of some sort.

He's never been kind to Harps. Never been a friend of the club. And there has been several topics on our own forum about the man.

So that argument doesn't work for ye I'm afraid

**outspoken** · 14/05/2013, 9:23 AM

He booked Alan Kirby for diving last year, Alan Kirby! That man never dived a day in his life, he has an agenda against us its as simple as that, Nigel if what you say is true about him having a grudge against one of your players it just shows how unprofessional he is, a referee should go into a game looking at it as team A vs team b, no preconceived ideas.

**nigel-harps1954** · 14/05/2013, 2:24 PM

Ah yeah, he's one of the worst ref's in the whole League of Ireland in my opinion. Goes on some serious power trips. He's a name we never, ever like to see in Finn Park.

**peterpan** · 14/05/2013, 4:08 PM

He is a name ye have never nor will ever see in Finn park as it is to far for a Wexford ref to travel, it was cost the Fai a small fortune!

**nigel-harps1954** · 14/05/2013, 4:09 PM

Originally Posted by peterpan

He is a name ye have never nor will ever see in Finn park as it is to far for a Wexford ref to travel, it was cost the Fai a small fortune!

You'd think that.

But the FAI don't pay the refs. Not a cent.

**outspoken** · 14/05/2013, 4:54 PM

Without going off topic here after watching MNS today the refereeing is the worst its ever been, one weekend a mass boycott from clubs would be great to see, refuse to pay the refs.

**peterpan** · 14/05/2013, 8:41 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

You'd think that.

But the FAI don't pay the refs. Not a cent.

your wrong there Nigel, the clubs pay a nominal fee to the Fai at the start of the season and the Fai pay the refs for every game, the clubs fees don't cover the full fee so the Fai make up the shortfall.

**peterpan** · 14/05/2013, 8:43 PM

Originally Posted by outspoken

Without going off topic here after watching MNS today the refereeing is the worst its ever been, one weekend a mass boycott from clubs would be great to see, refuse to pay the refs.

How would that work, as much as we all love to hate refs they are needed for games.

**nigel-harps1954** · 14/05/2013, 8:58 PM

Originally Posted by peterpan

your wrong there Nigel, the clubs pay a nominal fee to the Fai at the start of the season and the Fai pay the refs for every game, the clubs fees don't cover the full fee so the Fai make up the shortfall.

I'm not sure where you got that from. But that's wrong. It's precisely why I've heard clubs complain about the costs of referees putting them out of pocket after home games.

**peterpan** · 14/05/2013, 9:06 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

I'm not sure where you got that from. But that's wrong. It's precisely why I've heard clubs complain about the costs of referees putting them out of pocket after home games.

Trust me on this one, I'm involved in a Loi club and there is no money handed to refs by the club

**nigel-harps1954** · 15/05/2013, 12:44 AM

Originally Posted by peterpan

Trust me on this one, I'm involved in a Loi club and there is no money handed to refs by the club

Maybe there's one rule for one club.

I'll take your word for it, but I've always been led to believe otherwise!

**Longfordian** · 15/05/2013, 12:02 PM

I think it's changed in the last couple of years. Clubs certainly used to pay the refs direct.

**peterpan** · 15/05/2013, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by Longfordian

I think it's changed in the last couple of years. Clubs certainly used to pay the refs direct.

When the Fai came on board that all changed, no money changes hands now.

**Keen2win** · 15/05/2013, 12:57 PM

Smackdown!

**outspoken** · 15/05/2013, 4:40 PM

Referees are defo paid by the clubs, as for my boycott idea it would send a clear message to the FAI that their officials are muck and we demand change now! Would cause major embaresment to fai

**peterpan** · 15/05/2013, 5:14 PM

Originally Posted by outspoken

Referees are defo paid by the clubs, as for my boycott idea it would send a clear message to the FAI that their officials are muck and we demand change now! Would cause major embaresment to fai

CLUBS DO NOT PAY REFEREES.....check it out, And as for your boycott idea it's just silly, all it will lead to is a weekend of games being postponed, and would show up the clubs not the referees.