FAI CUP: Kenny Shiels reckons match official was '˜on Facebook or Twitter' before awarding penalty

In his post-match interview the Derry City boss, who was genuinely frustrated with the decision-making in the 2-1 semi-final replay defeat to Dundalk, clearly felt the officials made the wrong call in the lead up to Ciaran Kilduff’s equalising goal from the spot.

And with his tongue planted firmly in his cheek, Shiels quipped that match official, Paul Tuite, who was placed behind the goal and had a hand in awarding a penalty when Robbie Benson went down under the challenge of Niclas Vemmelund, was perhaps ‘on the phone at the time’.

When asked about the incident the City boss commented: “You saw it yourself, he cut inside and fell and it’s not a penalty!

“If I’m wrong I’ll hold my hand up but from where I was, he’s cut and went over and fell and the fourth official or whatever you call those guys around the goalmouth - I think he was on the phone at the time, maybe I’m wrong. He looked to be on the phone. I don’t know whether he was on Facebook or Twitter or whatever it was,” he smiled.

“But certainly the guy just rolled over and what do you do?”

Despite his frustrations as City’s cup final hopes ended at the hands of the holders who meet Cork City in a repeat of the 2015 decider, Shiels was hugely encouraged by his side’s performance on the night.

And it was an heroic display given the exertions of the 2-2 draw in Oriel Park on Sunday and the quick turnaround as they bossed much of the semi-final replay in front of the biggest attendance of the season at Brandywell.

“But let’s be positive about it,” added the Derry boss on a more serious note. “We’ve four games left and we will not lie down to anybody and the players showed tremendous effort, Let’s talk about the good things and not the misdemeanours and the poor decision making by officials. We can’t talk about that, it’s not in our remit. Let’s talk about the performance and I’m really disappointed for the players.”--