Dull Drogheda send Harps home early

Never a dull moment (or maybe too many) – might be an appropriate description for what unfolded at United Park, Drogheda this evening.

Finn Harps were the visitors for the League of Ireland First Division opener against the Drogs, but the game was sensationally called off after referee John McLaughlin and his team of officials – Alan Sherlock, Declan Toland and Tomas Connolly – ruled that the lights at the old stadium were not adequate.

Some 17 lights were not working around the pitch and the officials deemed that certain areas of the pitch were not adequately illuminated.

It is understood that an instruction was received from the FAI that the game should be played.

It is also understood that both managers, Timmy Clancy of Drogheda Utd and Ollie Horgan of Finn Harps wanted the game to go ahead.

A Drogheda Utd official highlighted the fact that a number of pre-season friendlies were played at the venue and a Leinster Senior Cup tie was played last week – all those games were properly officiated with no issues raised about the lights.

A crowd of around 400 was in the ground with a substantial number of Finn Harps supporters left to face a long journey home.

Harps and lights at away venues have had previous as two seasons ago a game against Sligo Rovers was abandoned after 85 minutes due to floodlight failure – that was 0-0 at the time and subsequently was declared a result.

A photographer from Donegal tonight suggested that the lights at United Park were no worse than McGinn Park in Buncrana where Derry City played all their home games last season?

The game was Trim man Timmy Clancy's first official game as manager of Drogheda Utd in his first managerial role.

“There's not much we can do about it, it's very disappointing for everyone, all I can do now is look to next weekend away to Shelbourne at Tolka Park,” he told the Meath Chronicle.

The game will be re-fixed later in the season – possibly during a FAI Cup weekend if both teams are knocked out early – but that's only speculation.

FAI STATEMENT

The game at United Park was postponed after the referee judged the lighting to be unsatisfactory.

A new date for the fixture will be announced in due course.

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