STEPHEN BRADLEY fumed over the penalty decision which may have derailed their five-in-a-row bid as Ruaidhri Higgins hit back over criticism of Patrick McEleney.
Shamrock Rovers looked to be heading for a big three points against Derry City on Friday night, thanks to Dylan Watts’ first-half opener.
But referee Damien MacGraith awarded a penalty when there was no contact between Josh Honohan and Patrick McEleney with Pat Hoban converting the spot-kick.
And Rovers boss Bradley said: “I’m just really disappointed that the referee has taken it out of our hands in the manner that he did.
“It’s a disgraceful decision. I’ve watched it 10 times and he hasn’t touched him.
“Patrick’s been clever, fair play to him, he gives the ref a decision to make.
“But Derry players are coming over and telling us he didn’t touch him, he dived. That’s no slant on them, they have to try, that’s fine.
“For the referee to give a decision like that in a game like this when we are so comfortable is disgraceful.
“And the arrogance of him, honestly, it’s actually incredible.
“He’s laughing at you coming off. It’s a disgusting decision. It’s not acceptable.
“You have to be sure with these decisions. As a referee and a linesman, that’s an incredible decision to give.
“There is no way you can be sure because there is no contact. They couldn’t have had a better view.
“The referee is looking straight at it, no one in his way, the linesman is 10 yards away, no one in his way. And there is zero contact.
“Honestly he is awful, that referee, and he has shown it again. That decision is incredible. And nothing will be done about it. He will ref again next week and the week after. Nothing will be done about it. It’s an awful decision.”
Asked if it would make him in favour of VAR being introduced in the League of Ireland, he said: “For things like that I would be, yeah.
“We have had it in Europe where it has been really good. We had it against Celje where VAR came into play.
“We knew it was a penalty, our video analysis guys were telling us it was a penalty, so we knew it was. Then VAR looks at it and it was a penalty. So it really does help you out.”
RTE pundit Conan Byrne slammed McEleney for his part, describing him as disgraceful but that drew a sharp response from Derry boss Higgins.
Higgins said: “It’s an interesting comment.
“Did he make as much noise about the penalty we never got?
“The absolute stonewall penalty, he probably didn’t because he lives in Dublin and he has to face his friends more regularly than he has to face people up here.
“Listen, we’re used to that absolute nonsense. Patrick McEleney is the most honest professional I’ve ever worked with and obviously Conan doesn’t know him too well.
“He used his experience, of course he did, and we got the penalty we deserved because there were two previous incidents that we should have got one and didn’t.”
CLEAR AS DAY
One was when Lee Grace handled the ball on the ground as he blocked a shot.
It had ricocheted off it but he had lunged with both arms outstretched.
And Higgins added: “We had a brilliant view of it here with the angle and it’s a stonewall penalty.
“You see those penalties given every week and it’s a penalty.
“There’s no question about it and we didn’t get it unfortunately but we kept going, we kept believing and we got a point.”
But Bradley countered: “The Lee Grace one is very, very simple.
“Lee is on the ground and his arm is on the ground, and we have all been told at the start of the year that’s a natural position.
“You are supporting your body, your arm is on the ground, that is not a penalty. We all know that. I think you are clutching at straws with that one.
“But regardless of whether there are another four or five penalties, you don’t even it up by giving that one. It doesn’t matter. That’s awful.
“The players came here, dominated for the first-half, second-half completely in control out of possession, no chances for Derry and the referee takes it completely out of our hands.
“It’s not good enough. The ramifications of that can be so big.”
With Shels losing, Derry moved to within three points of the top with Rovers a further four points adrift with six games each left to play.
