Dundalk’s manager Stephen Kenny didn’t want to criticise the referee after Dundalk’s defeat on Wednesday night. In fact, he felt referee Deniz Aytekin had a good game overall, except for one moment.
Unfortunately that moment was the key one in the game.
“I’m very disappointed at the really appalling decision that swung the game.”
Kenny had showered and given himself time to consider things before he spoke in the post-match press conference, But as he tried to comprehend the penalty awarded to Legia Warsaw, he couldn’t manage it.
The ball was going wide when Steeven Langil shot and goalkeeper Gary Rogers had it covered anyway. Kenny touched on all these factors which had no bearing on whether it was a penalty or not, but it was as if he was trying to explain in so many ways why it couldn’t be a penalty.
“Andy Boyle has thrown himself at it, he’s tried to block it, the brave defender that he is. And the rules of the game – I’ve had the referees in to discuss with the players what is legitimate handball and what isn’t. His hand is not in an unnatural position. His arm is close to his body. It’s certainly not a penalty. And in the historical context of football in Ireland and the ramifications, to give a penalty like that was hugely disappointing and hard to believe. It’s a really, really poor decision.”
Dundalk ended up losing 2-0. After a display where they matched Legia Warsaw that was hard to take for the manager. Kenny said some had had suggested the linesman gave the penalty, but the more he talked, the less he could figure it out.
“We’ve had seminars with all the players in private about what we can and can’t do and that is clearly not against the rules, that is not a penalty kick.”
Kenny had said before the game that everything was stacked against his club. He was asked if the penalty was another one of those moments where the little guy doesn’t catch a break, but he couldn’t say.
“I want to be forthright but I want to be sincere. That moment shifted the game in a huge way. I thought we were the better team up to that. There’s no way we deserved to lose 2-0. Psychologically the goal had a huge impact on us.”
He had watched his side take the game to Legia and it might have been different if the key decision had gone the other way, the only way Kenny felt it should have gone.
“The initial feeling is huge disappointment and anger really. When the players saw the penalty back they just couldn’t believe it. Such a shocking decision, shocking, but we dust ourselves down and get ready for next week.”
On the latest episode of the GAA Hour Hurling Show Wooly and the lads reflect on a monumental weekend of action. Listen below or subscribe here on iTunes
