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Why referee Alan Kelly has left a void in the League of Ireland

Listen to the full chat above via the podcast player  Before he departed for Major League S...



Why referee Alan Kelly has lef...
Soccer

Why referee Alan Kelly has left a void in the League of Ireland

Listen to the full chat above via the podcast player 

Before he departed for Major League Soccer at the end of the 2013 season, referee Alan Kelly was the League of Ireland No 1 when it came to the art of officiating.

On the FIFA list since 2002, Kelly has taken charge of continental games and international friendlies and Stuart Byrne believes he is much missed in the Airtricity League.

"I've always felt that when Alan Kelly went out of the league there was a huge void left. I think that's still there," Stuey told us as he and Derry City manager Roddy Collins joined us on the show for the Tuesday night League of Ireland slot.

"Alan was always ahead of the rest and because he's not there now, there's an even playing field among the referees. When Alan was there you could see the difference in standard."

He believes referees need to be fitter and better, while Roddy felt Kelly was particularly impressive in both of those regards and the top man by a "country mile".

Roddy also explained why fourth officials are the "bane of his life" and had one story about a particular incident.

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