14th March
It really makes you sick. I can take losing fair and square. A few hours after the match I can accept losing games because we missed some sitters and gifted goals but the pain after this defeat can't go away. We did not lose this game because they were better than us, we did not lose it because of our mistakes, we lost it because we were cheated out of a draw by possibly the most inept team of officials that you could ever imagine seeing. Absolutely outrageous is all I can call some of the decisions that were made by John Stacey and his linesman yesterday. Unbelievable. It seems as though that Cork, like Pats have this power that can make decisions go their way against us. We fought for a draw in Richmond and fought for a draw here and earned the points but have come away with nothing. Which brings us back into the relegation mire and makes the agony of loss all the more unbearable.
Dundalk started this game in a 5-3-2 formation with Melvin joining Gollogly and Brady at the back . Reddish played right wing back and Crawley on the left. Fortune, Thew and McNulty in the middle and up front Ward and Brennan. The first half was nondescript. Lightened by a piece of Cahill magic when he skipped past two Dundalk players and shot into the side netting. Cork had the most possession but Dundalk must have left the field disappointed after having four players booked by Stacey. Only one, a nasty challenge by Gollogly on Cahill warranted punishment, the other three were no worse than anything Cork committed and got away with. The linesman was awful through, flagging David Ward offside when he was through on goal, despite the fact when the ball was hit he was in his own half. For Dundalk the back three in the first half and for the whole game in fact were all excellent and stifled the Cork attack in front of a medium sized crowd which became quieter and quieter until Stacey took control. Dundalk were playing for a draw. There was a reluctancy to move forward. The wing backs were playing as man markers and the midfield three rarely ventured forward, when one did it was usually Fortune.
The second half was quiet for five minutes until the talkng point occured. A ball was knocked out of the ground. A new ball was used to take the throw and the game proceeded when suddenly someone threw the second ball onto the pitch. The game was stopped so to restart the game the ref had to drop the ball which involves the ball being dropped between two players. However he dropped it at the feet of Mark Herrick who rolled it out the wing. A stunned Dundalk midfield watched as the ball was slotted through to Flanagan whose deflected shot off Gollogley bobbled past Williams. Next thing all hell broke loose. Jim McLaughlin was on the pitch in a flash and so was Willie Crawley. A melee ensued with many players involved. The goal was given. It later emerged that Herrick had told the nearest Dundalk player Thew that he would kick it back to Dundalk. A bit strange considering Cork had the ball but even when Thew fell for it the referee should insist a drop ball is contested between two players. But then this is John Stacey after all and he is a National League referee. When do the rules of the game apply to him.
Then the Cork crowd who had woken from their post lunch slumber got really excited and jeered McLaughlin off the pitch. While they were still in raptures David Crawley fouled a Cork player beside them. They went spare as they were still on their feet. Stacey, playing to the crowd and the cameras decided this foul was worthy of a direct red card. Was it a two footed tackle ? A professional foul ? Violent conduct ? A headbutt ? No, just a normal everyday foul that was repeated by a Cork player soon after and only a yellow card was given for it. Tommy Connolly exchanged words with the Cork bench. Patsy Freyne decided to have a kick at Noel Melvin, Herrick had a kick at Dundalk players who to be fair did give some back later on with some rash tackles.That's outrage number two.
Then Dundalk made a sub. The terrible Ward who had been put through twice but had been caught and then dispossessed by Cork defenders on both occasions was thankfully replaced by Ciaran Dunne. Dunne was [allegedly] fouled soon after and Dundalk had a free kick. Colin Fortune stood up and his free kick drilled along the ground beat Noel Mooney in the Cork goal. Was justice being done ? Hell no. The ref disallowed it despite the fact that neither he nor the linesman had clearly signalled for an indirect free kick. This was an outrage, beyond a joke. I can't remember much of what happened after that because I was too angry. I felt sick, cheated by a referee who seemed more than biased towards a Cork team who deserved to win nothing and one feels will be put in their place by Pats come the end of the season.
Corks second came when Cahill's cross shot sailed over Williams and into the net. The damage had been done already. There was no comeback. Neither team got what they deserved which was a point each. Cork find themselves in a false position on top of the league, Dundalk find themselves hovering above the relegation zone which is unfair. For Dundalk the back three were outstanding, particularly Melvin and Gollogley. Fortune had a good first half while McNulty battled along with Thew. Reddish had a poor game while Crawley was doing well until he was sent off. Up front Brennan worked very hard for the team but Ward did the opposite. He wouldn't get in the Rock Celtic team if he played like that. But this was a game dominated by controversy and leaves a sick taste in the mouth. Action should be taken to stop this happening again, take that clown off the list. Mind you I wouldn't hold your breath.
After another good display in the centre of defence I have to again give the award to Padraig Gollogly touching off Noel Melvin.