Controversial call puts the Drogs in a tight spot
‘STONEWALL’ was the buzzword going around United Park last Friday night as Drogheda United paid a heavy price for what looked like a bad refereeing mistake.
This reporter would be happy to apologise to Ray Matthews if TV footage shows conclusively that Chris Lyons wasn’t tripped in the area by Derek Prendergast, but everyone in the ground seemed to think it was a penalty and almost certainly a red card for the former Drogheda skipper.
If Shelbourne are waking up this morning (Tuesday) having completed a comfortable victory over two legs - this paper went to press shortly before kick-off - they will argue Matthews’ decision was irrelevant, but it was certainly a mental hammer blow for the Drogs to go into the away leg already a goal down.
It has to be said, though, that the match official wasn’t solely to blame for this defeat, for the Boynesiders produced a below-par display and as the home team will be disappointed not to have caused more trouble for the Shels goalkeeper over the 90 minutes.
In fact, the penalty incident apart, Drogheda’s best scoring chance actually arrived in the first 30 seconds as Sean Brennan’s pass released the on-rushing Jake Hyland whose powerful left-footed drive was turned round the post by Dean Delany - the only difficult save he had to make in the entire match. Lyons also had a sight of goal in the fourth minute but steered a weak effort straight at the keeper after taking Brennan’s pass and cutting in from the right flank to give himself a better angle.
However, a 16th-minute booking for Ciaran Kelly was an indication that Shels were starting to get on top and entering the second quarter a Lorcan Fitzgerald free kick was nodded back by James English towards David O’Sullivan who was denied brilliantly by Paul Skinner at point-blank range before Kelly booted the loose ball away from under the crossbar.
Moments later, though, a bit of sloppiness at the back resulted in a Shelbourne corner and Fitzgerald swung in the set piece with pace towards English whose decisive header nestled in the net.
Drogheda looked like hauling themselves level four minutes later when Hyland teed up Lyons in the box and the striker seemed to have his legs clipped by Prendergast as he went to pull the trigger from 10 yards out, but referee Matthews instead awarded a corner kick.
The decision incensed the players and home crowd - and also manager Tim Clancy who reacted furiously from his position in the stand, where he was watching the action from because of his four-match suspension.
The remaining 15 minutes of the first half produced just one chance apiece, with English heading straight at Skinner from long range for Shels before Mark Doyle volleyed high and wide from a lovely cushioned pass by Luke Gallagher.
Almost straight after the restart Shels had centre-back Aidan Collins stretchered off after he seemed to twist his ankle, and Shels were still rearranging their defence when Lyons and Doyle combined to set up Hyland whose shot was blocked behind by Prendergast.
On the hour mark Brennan swung in a lovely free kick towards the penalty spot, from where Doyle was just unable to get a touch, but Drogheda were running out of ideas and in need of inspiration.
Perhaps manager Kevin Doherty was caught between two stools as he contemplated making changes but at the same time doubt worried that it might lead to a second Shelbourne goal and effectively end the tie as a contest.
Drogheda did create another decent chance on 72 minutes as Lyons controlled a Brennan centre and squared it to Hyland who blazed over the bar, while Delany made a comfortable save from a 40-yard Brennan free kick on 77.
That came shortly after Hyland and Lyons had both gone into Mr Matthews’ notebook, a sign of Drogheda’s increasing frustration.
Gareth McCaffrey, who had struggled to make any impact, was eventually replaced in the 85th minute, shortly before English and Adam Evans each sliced wide of the goal in quick succession for Shels, but with six minutes being added and then more for a late stoppage caused by an injury to English, there was still time for a late twist.
Alas, Lyons sliced badly wide when presented with a half-chance and the final whistle sounded with Gallagher and Kelly swapping passes with each other in their own half instead of lumping the ball forward in the hope of creating something in the last few seconds.
In fairness to Drogheda, Shelbourne did defend extremely well as a unit, as you might expect from the team with the best goalsagainst record in the First Division, but it’s hard not to reflect again on the penalty that wasn’t.
Had it been awarded and converted and Prendergast dismissed, with the centre-half’s partner Collins subsequently stretchered off, it would have put a completely different complexion on the tie going into last night’s second leg at Tolka Park.