Listen: Frustrated, dejected Ollie Horgan reflects on a Cup tie that got away

OLLIE Horgan kept as diplomatic as could be expected after seeing Finn Harps’ FAI Cup hopes go up in smoke.

Harps led League champions and Cup holders Shamrock Rovers 2-0 at half-time, but Rovers came back to win 3-2, aided by the awarding of three penalties, two of which were converted, in a five-minute spell of madness.

Horgan and his players couldn’t disguise their frustration and the Harps manager sought an explanation afterwards from referee Rob Hennessy and his assistants.

“That’s what happens when you’re the League winners – things go your way,” Horgan told Donegal Daily/Donegal Sport Hub. 

“If that was 2-0 to Shamrock Rovers, there isn’t a hope in hell that first penalty would be given. If we hadn’t been 2-0 up, there wouldn’t have been a penalty. There wouldn’t be any of three given.

“The second one was a penalty, no problem. The first one I can’\t see any foul. I looked at it and I have looked at it again. The third one, Graham Burke has stood on Mark Anthony (McGinley) and he gives a third penalty.”

Listen to the full interview below ….