It was honour's even at Turner's Cross as Warren Davis' goal for Drogheda United cancelled out Ruari Keating's penalty to make it a 1-1 draw.
However it was Davis' disallowed goal which has caught the ire of many. With just three minutes on the clock Cork City had a goal kick which Milan Mbeng passed back to his goalkeeper Tein Troost. The Dutch goalkeeper took his time on the ball while Davis was pressing towards him.
Troost's casualness would bite him as Davis blocked his clearance to give what many thought was a Drogheda lead. However referee Rob Hennessey blew his whistle and ruled out the goal to the bemusement of the Drogheda players.
It was explained that Davis was in the box before the goal kick was taken but upon replay it doesn't appear that the teenager had entered the box.
Huge let-off for Cork City here.
Drogheda have the ball in the net after Warren Davis pounded on a short goal-kick. @conanbyrnecb7 left perplexed on commentary!#LOI pic.twitter.com/otSMumbDbc
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) March 28, 2025
It was yet another controversial refereeing decision in the League of Ireland as it seems likes every week there's a decision which is making headlines rather than the football.
It was a call that left Drogheda United boss Kevin Doherty is anger and speaking with Virgin Media he spoke openly about the decision and how this was the straw that broke the camel's back for him.
He's not in the box. We worked on that all week. You get into trouble if you talk about officials, but I am a little bit sick of coming out and praising referees,
I feel we are being harshly treated and not just tonight. I'm really not happy about tonight. I don't want to talk about the standard because everyone talks about it and probably for good reason.
The referee still hasn’t seen it. I find that hard to believe because it would have been the first thing I would have looked at during half-time.
🗣 "He's not in the box."
🗣 "I'm a little bit sick of 'ah Kev will be grand.'"
🗣 "There's other coaches who don't treat the officials with the same respect I do, and I think they get a lot more than us."
Strong words from @DroghedaUnited manager Kevin Doherty. #LOI pic.twitter.com/f48OIVJzz5
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) March 28, 2025
Doherty may have been angry with the decision but some fans on twitter have appeared to have found a loophole in the rule that because Mbeng passed the ball backwards to goalkeeper Troost then the ball is still not in play, thus every Drogheda player had to stay outside of the box until Troost passes the ball.
This adds further clarity to what was a correct decision at Turners Cross to disallow that "goal". https://t.co/MWs6HmeDZb
— Con Murphy (@ConMurphySport) March 29, 2025
It's certainly a decision that needs clearing up. The draw means Drogheda United drop to third following wins for St. Pats and Galway United, who are first and second respectively. Drogs are back home next Friday as they host Waterford at Weavers Park.
