Bray showdown still not out of Kenny’s system

DUNDALK manager Stephen Kenny insists his side must put the ‘low point’ of his 19-year managerial career behind them by concentrating on getting back to winning ways at home to Bohemians in Oriel Park on Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm).

After taking to the club website last week to bemoan the fact his side hadn’t been awarded a penalty in the league in exactly 12 months, Kenny then saw his side concede two dubious spot kicks at home to Bray Wanderers on Friday night. Both were converted by Gary McCabe as the Lilywhites suffered a 3-1 defeat that leaves them nine points off early pacesetters Cork City at the top of the table.

Despite seeing his side beat UCD following a shoot-out on Monday to advance to the quarter-finals of the EA Sports Cup, Kenny returned to the contentious matter of the Bray game and questioned referee Jim McKell’s performance.

‘I can’t tell you how disappointed I am about the whole episode at the weekend,’ he said.

“I don’t think I’ve ever felt as low as I have after a game. It’s very hard on the players who work hard all year to have to tolerate that. It’s a real low point.

‘We were trying to work out the possibilities of getting two penalties in the one half and when it has happened over the years. Neither of the penalties were penalties the other day.

‘I can’t tell you how let down everyone feels by it. It goes beyond anything really I can describe.

‘We conceded a penalty for nothing, then we equalise and then another is given.

‘I don’t want the culture of complaining. We’ll deal with whatever fixtures are thrown at us. That’s all stuff that’s within your control but you’ve no control over decisions like that or no comeback.

‘I just can’t believe it, to be honest. I can’t tell you how really disappointed I am with the whole thing. I just can’t even express how disappointed I am.’

Kenny said the two decisions were difficult to take.

‘I don’t think either of them were penalties. The second one was just farcical. It’s a real farce because first of all the free kick is never a free kick, secondly the ball is played into the box and Dane Massey is actually swung around and their player lands on the ground.

‘The Bray player swung him around and the penalty is given. Gary Rogers has caught the ball and it’s actually nowhere near where the ball is, so it’s bizarre really.

‘All of our players complained about his language in the game, so to give penalties like that, I just can’t accept it. It’s really, really bizarre. You’re supposed to take each game on its merits, but that to me is a really bizarre situation. I’ve never experienced that really. It was really, really bizarre.

‘I’m managing now for many years and I’ve never experienced anything like that. Sometimes you get decisions that go for you and against you like the penalty incident in Cork, but that’s just a decision against you and you can make reference to it, but you accept that it just didn’t go your way and that’s just one of those things in life.

‘Some seasons are better than others in that regard for things like that, but that had nothing to do with Friday. I don’t feel that about Friday. I feel Friday was really, really difficult for the players to accept. You prepare and dedicate your lives to your sport and it’s very difficult to accept anything like that.

‘I can’t say any more, but it’s not a league I’d want to be part of, with that going on last Friday. I wouldn’t want to be part of that and nor should anyone else.

“It has knocked everyone at the club last Friday. None of the players ever experienced anything like that before, but we just have to dust ourselves down. We can’t even concern ourselves about winning league titles at the minute. We’re well off top, so we’ve just got to focus on winning a few matches.’

Kenny also hit out at Cork boss John Caulfield after he had called for the FAI to take sanctions against the Dundalk manager for his comments last week.

‘What did I say wrong? I didn’t attack or criticise the officials. I think that he’s lashing a personal attack on me and that’s quite low if he wants to make the attacks personal.

‘As a fellow manager you should never launch personal attacks and I think that’s quite disappointing in that regard.

‘I referenced the fact that players are manufacturing penalties and that referees need to be more vigilant to it. Essentially that was it, that was the main point. It’s not an easy job refereeing and it’s difficult to ascertain the difference. Some players are creative in the way they do it.

‘We came in here with nothing with Dundalk just over four years ago. We’ve worked hard to get to where we are. I accept overall that Cork have been the better team this season so far.

‘We had a lot of problems this season so far and we’re rebuilding somewhat. Overall, they’ve been very consistent and I’m not taking that away from them, but what went on on Friday was an exceptionally, exceptionally low point. I’ve never seen that in however many games I’ve managed.

‘We’ll have to bounce back and try to get a victory on Friday and that’s our focus now.’

Dundalk have doubts over Paddy Barrett, who limped out of the victory over UCD on Monday evening with a thigh problem, and Niclas Vemmelund for the visit of Bohemians.

Robbie Benson, Sean Gannon and Shane Grimes all remain sidelined, although the latter is expected to return to first-team training on Thursday.