Alan Cawley has slammed Dundalk FC defender Daniel Cleary for a 'disgraceful' tackle during the FAI Ford Cup sem-final against UCD.
Dundalk defeated their first division opponents in controversial circumstances after referee Robert Hennessy brandished a yellow card rather than a red for a lunge from Cleary. A piece of Patrick McEleney magic later proved the difference but speaking on Soccer Republic, Cawley was hugely critical of the first half challenge.
This is a lunge, that is a proper lunge two feet off the ground. He is going in to hurt the player there. That is a disgraceful tackle.
"This tackle is disgraceful, nothing short of disgraceful..." #RTEsoccer pic.twitter.com/PcIQcA9vtn
— Soccer Republic (@SoccRepublic) October 1, 2018
Cawley went on to criticise the referee, suggesting it had 'a huge bearing on the game.'
Nevertheless, Dundalk progressed and will face the winners of Bohemians versus Cork City after they played out a 1-1 draw on Sunday.
