Dundalk progressed to the final of the FAI Cup by winning Tuesday night's semi-final replay 2-1 against Derry City at the Brandywell. The sides had drawn 2-2 at Oriel Park on Sunday.
Ronan Curtis - who grabbed a late equaliser in the first game - gave Derry the lead after just three minutes. On the 37 minute mark arrived a moment which angered Derry players at the time and led to some amusing comments from manager Kenny Shiels after the game.
Dundalk were awarded a penalty when Robbie Benson clashed in the box with Niclas Vemmelund. Match official Paul Tuite, standing behind the goal, decided it was deserving of a penalty - Derry players did not. Following some arguments, Europa League hero Ciaran Kilduff stepped up to score the penalty.
Kenny Shiels match official comments
After the game, Kenny Shiels said Robbie Benson had dived to win the penalty. He also added, with tongue in cheek according to the Derry Journal, that Paul Tuite must have been on social media at the time. The specifics of which platform he did not have.
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.
But certainly the guy just rolled over and what do you do?
Ronan Finn got the winner for Dundalk midway through the second half.
It is not the first time in recent weeks that Shiels has made some interesting comments in the wake of a loss to Dundalk. After a 3-1 loss to them in the league nearly a fortnight ago, he was asked about the possibility of Daryl Horgan playing for Ireland. Shiels responded by expressing his dislike for international football and saying that 'The Republic of Ireland are England reserves and Northern Ireland are England’s reserves’ reserves.'
