This is the Copy of the One True Faith which was not printed in the League game against Kilkenny Earlier this season.

Harping On/ The One True Faith

Tonight sees the visit of Pat Byrne and his Kilkenny City side to Finn Park for the first time
since their return to the top flight, and after last week's disappointing result at UCD it is vital
that Harps record their first home win of the season this evening. Despite making the step up
to the premier Kilkenny have not departed from their policy of not spending money on transfer
fees, instead preferring to sign players on free transfers. Indeed it is part of the constitution of
Kilkenny FC that this should be the case. In a somewhat bizarre development, the manager
who actually guided the Cats to promotion departed for Waterford United during the close
season, along with a couple of players, hence joining Kilkenny's local rivals, and the side that
they relegated to the first division in the play-offs at the end of last season.

Kilkenny gained their promotion to the premier in the midst of controversy over the incredible
affair involving the signing of Fran Carter from Galway United. The registration papers were
apparently signed by the manager Pat Byrne, and the FAI, deemed the player to have been
improperly registered for the game against Limerick, and Kilkenny were deducted the 3 points
they won in the game. This appeared to be a suitable end to the affair, but when Kilkenny
appealed the decision the FAI in the guise of Milo Corcoran, the decision was changed, and it
was deemed that the Limerick game should be replayed.

The story did not end there however and Dundalk, having suffered a massive loss of form
allowing Kilkenny back within touching distance of the third place play-off spot, took the case
to court, as the 3 points were to make all the difference to who got the chance to play off for
the place in the premier. The judge eventually ruled that because Pat Byrne had signed the
registration form with the consent of Fran Carter that the manager was hence acting in effect
as the player's agent. The huge irony of the situation was of course that Kilkenny went on to
relegate Waterford United, Milo Corcoran's own club, in the much delayed play-off at the end
of last season.

Once again the men from Merrion Square did not, to put it mildly, cover themselves in glory
with their management of the League of Ireland issues. Through their inconsistency and the
vagueness of certain rules, the image of the League, and the FAI was dragged once again
through the mud, providing yet more ammunition for the premiership-loving armchair brigade
who dismiss Irish football as a 'Mickey Mouse' effort. Also, the proceedings were extremely
costly to Dundalk FC, who, as well as missing out on the chance to make an immediate
return to the premier, were left with a legal bill of over £10000.

I wandered along to Whitehall at the end of last season to watch the conclusion of Dundalk's
campaign, and to say their supporters were unhappy with the situation would be somewhat of
an understatement. The case still rankles with the fans of the Border club, and the Internet
sites devoted to both clubs still regularly see lively 'debates' arising from the affair and it's
aftermath. On that night I left with the opinion that an extra season in the first division might
be to the benefit of the club in the long term, as I felt that given the performance form the
Dundalk side on the night, they might not be ready for the premier, in much the same way as
the defeat in the play-off in Athlone was probably a good thing in the long term for ourselves,
as when we did achieve promotion the following year, we were in a far better position to
compete in the premier. Perhaps then the court decision that went in Kilkenny's favour,
although in the short term damaging to the Lilywhites, may in the end actually do them more
good than the Cats, who may once again find the premier division pace a little too tough to
compete with.

The Phantom Contributer

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