Finn Harps Chairman expresses disappointment at lack of Cup TV Coverage

July 20, 2007

Finn Harps Chairman John Campbell has reacted to yesterday's announcement that TG4 will not cover the upcoming Ford FAI cup third round match from Finn Park, expressing some surprise and disappointment at the decision.

In a personal statement Mr Campbell, a native Irish speaker from the Gaeltach area of Kilcar in South Donegal said " As Chairman of Finn Harps  I am extremely disappointed that once again Finn Harps have been ignored when eircom League matche is being broadcast. On this occasion I find the decision baffling because to anyone with an interest in sport Finn Harps V Derry City is the game of the round yet it is being ignored."

This fixture would indeed appear to be the glamour tie of the round, with the Ballybofey club expecting a capacity crowd of 5,000 fans for a passionate North West Derby. Indeed it will only be the third meeting of these fierce rivals in the Blue Ribband competition, and the first ever at Finn Park. Derry have won both previous Cup meetings at the Brandywell, winning 3-0 in 1986 and 1-0 in 1995.

Campbell feels particularly aggrieved given that it is the National Irish Language station that has overlooked his club. "The fact that County Donegal has the largest Gaeltacht in Ireland and has the highest number of native Irish speaker makes the decision more disappointing, and indeed our opponents Derry City have over the years put massive effort into the development of the Irish Language."

The Harps chief official hopes this decision will not be Harps last chance to get some well deserved national coverage "As a fluent Irish Speaker I am extremely disappointed by the decision and I would ask now TG4 to publicly commit to broadcasting a Finn Harps fixture in the near future"