St. Patrick's Athletic traveled to the newly refurbished Brandywell this evening to take on Derry City and found themselves on the wrong end of a somewhat contentious, but very confusing, decision from referee Rob Harvey.
Having gone 1-0 behind to a wonderful goal from Derry's Aaron McEneff, the former Aston Villa man Kevin Toner will undoubtedly be disappointed with his attempted clearance beforehand.
1-0 to Derry as Aaron McEneff capitalises on the lose clearance from St Pat's pic.twitter.com/rd5QAUMK8C
— Soccer Republic (@SoccRepublic) March 30, 2018
Rallying well though, St. Pat's created three good chances to equalise in the space of a manner of seconds.
Leading to a corner, Liam Buckley's side were certain they had equalised when Jake Keegan bundled the ball across the line. Alas, Harvey disallowed it.
Prompting a flurry of passionate complaints from the St. Pat's players, the free out was awarded and the game continued on.
St Pat's go close and then have a goal disallowed - major talking point or what .. pic.twitter.com/U3PYKBnsTs
— Soccer Republic (@SoccRepublic) March 30, 2018
With both George Hamilton and Brian Kerr on commentary left torn between whether the goal had been disallowed for an offside, or a potential high-foot from Keegan.
Kerr rightly pointed out that the linesman had not raised his flag, perhaps ruling out the question of offside.
Either way, it has prompted much debate among those watching; and a lot of flak for the referee's decision.
St pats hard done by there didn’t see a foul thought goal should have stood #LOI
— Alan Keane (@keano47) March 30, 2018
Derry very fortunate. Have to say a hometown decision.
— christopher slavin (@christophersla1) March 30, 2018
Terrible decision
— Alan Cahill (@simontempler2) March 30, 2018
Any idea why @stpatsfc goal was disallowed
— Robert Quigley (@quigo26) March 30, 2018
Anyone able to see why that’s been disallowed? That’s a shocker. #DERRYvPATS #LeagueOfIreland
— Mark (@TheMarkLynch) March 30, 2018
Only Rob Harvey knows why that goal is disallowed.. Awful officiating.. #loi #saints
— Aaron Doherty (@finsceal) March 30, 2018
Disallowed goal for no reason! Really poor decision from referee and shown up on live television https://t.co/rKtmyFpvfh
— Colman Hanley (@chanley1989) March 30, 2018
Derry's assistant manager Hugh Harkin is sympathetic to Pat's for the disallowed goal. Respect for the honesty. #COYSS
— Eoin Harmon (@Eoin_Harmon) March 30, 2018
Think they were saying something a boot was raised 🤔🤔 can not see why it was disallowed though did not look like anything in it.
— Chris (@ccoburn89) March 30, 2018
In their half-time analysis of the incident, both Johnny McDonnell and Peter Hutton could find no reason for Harvey's decision either.
Why was the St Pat's goal disallowed? It's hard to figure out from the replays #rtesoccer pic.twitter.com/x92fbvzB1x
— Soccer Republic (@SoccRepublic) March 30, 2018
