Penalty decision leaves Dundalk with regrets as FAI Cup run comes to an end

Ciaran Kilduff admitted Dundalk FC were “gutted” after their Club Orange FAI Cup hopes came to an end at the Ryan McBride Brandywell, with the Lilywhites manager left to rue a penalty decision he felt proved a decisive turning point in their 4-2 quarter-final defeat by Derry City.

Dundalk had taken an early lead through Shane Tracey and were competing well before Ronan Teahan was penalised for handball shortly before half-time.

Michael Duffy converted from the spot to put Derry 2-1 ahead, and although Dundalk pushed hard in the second half, they were unable to recover.

“We’re gutted. I think we saw it as an opportunity, especially taking the lead. We executed the game plan well at the start, didn’t sustain it at times. Throwing away a lead like that, even in the first half, we chased the game the whole way through.

“I think the penalty swung it. All of a sudden, we went from 1-0 up to 2-1 down on a harsh decision, and it was 2-1 for a long time. Then, of course, we got caught late, but it was what it was.”

Kilduff was particularly critical of the award of the penalty, with Teahan appearing to lose his footing as he attempted to cut out Brandon Fleming’s low cross before the ball struck his arm.

“Unless he gets rid of his arms. I think there’s a huge bit of uncertainty because there’s absolutely no deliberate action to handle that ball. He slipped, his hand went down, yes, it made contact with the ball.

“Paul (McLaughlin) was quick to give it. It was straight away. He had no hesitation. At half-time, we spoke. He said, ‘Yeah, it was a harsh one.’

“I don’t know if it’s the letter of the law, but we’re bitterly disappointed. It’s not the whole reason we didn’t win the game, but it definitely was a huge turning point in it, even from the management of it.

“You go from, as I said, leading to drawing to losing in a very quick space of time. And that decision was what hinged the game.”

The television replays, shown during RTÉ’s live coverage of the game, appeared to reinforce Dundalk’s frustration, with the footage suggesting that Teahan had slipped as he attempted to block Fleming’s cross and that the resulting handball decision was, at the very least, harsh.

Dundalk had emptied the bench in an effort to find a way back into the contest and the changes did have an impact. Trevor Clarke struck the crossbar before substitute Leo Gaxha pulled a goal back in the final minute of normal time, but by then Derry had established a commanding advantage.

Kilduff pointed to a similar impact from his substitutes in the previous week’s game in Drogheda, but felt Dundalk were ultimately forced into chasing the contest rather than controlling it.

“That was similar to last week in Drogheda, where our subs came on and made an impact, and we’d watched them last week as well. Rovers were 3-1 down at one point and came back, so we felt we could, but we were huffing and puffing a little bit rather than controlling it.

“Again, we’re chasing the game. They were quite happy to give us a little bit more of the ball. We kept going. Trevor hits the bar late and Leo gets a goal, but unfortunately, the horse had bolted at that point.”

For all Dundalk’s pressure, Kilduff acknowledged that Derry were more clinical when the opportunities presented themselves.

“I don’t think we got enough shots on target, but then, contrary to that, they had four and there were four goals. Missed chances were few and far between, but they were more clinical at those moments, and that’s us out.”

The defeat brings an end to Dundalk’s cup ambitions but, with seven Premier Division matches remaining, Kilduff’s attention now turns to finishing what has already been a strong season following promotion from the First Division.

Dundalk travel to Waterford on Friday night, with the manager determined that the disappointment of the Brandywell will not derail their league campaign.

“Win as many games as we can. We’re fourth in the table. We’re proud of that. We’re coming up from the First Division. We’ve had a good season to date.

“We wanted it to be even more magical with a positive cup run. That obviously ends, but we’ve Waterford on Friday that we’ll have to dust off and get ready for.”