CONFUSION REIGNED IN Oriel Park on Monday evening as Dundalk’s Andy Boyle was yellow-carded twice without getting sent off during their 5-2 win over UCD.
With the score at 4-1 to Town after 75 minutes, Boyle was adjudged to have fouled Barry McCabe in the penalty area late on, referee Jim McKell pointed to the spot and awarded Boyle a yellow card. However, the centre half had already been cautioned early in the second half but amazingly, no red was forthcoming.
The match though carried on regardless, after Robbie Benson converted the penalty, with Dundalk’s full compliment. There were 15 minutes remaining at the time but Pat Hoban scored the last goal of the game for Town as he converted from the spot.
It was a bizarre incident to end a game that hardly lacked in entertainment. UCD players, nor the bench, didn’t seem to latch onto the fact that Boyle should have been sent for an early bath while unsurprisingly, the defender walked away from the situation sheepishly. It was a moment most embarrassing for referee McKell.
The official has taken charge of just four Premier Division games this season and before tonight, showed four red cards. The irony isn’t lost that when he should have made it five in five, he made a shocking error.
– Additional reporting by Patrick McCarry