Shelbourne boss Damien Duff slams ‘mind boggling’ decision that led to St Patrick’s Athletic winner

John Martin was brought down by Aaron Bolger in the build-up to Monday night’s winning goal.

Damien Duff has hit out at the “mind boggling” decision that cost his side a point in Monday night’s thrilling Dublin derby against St Patrick’s Athletic.

Shelbourne had recovered from a two-goal deficit - thanks to brilliant strikes by Rayhaan Tulloch and Matty Smith - and looked the more likely winners as the game entered the final stages.

But up popped Pat’s substitute Al-Amin Kazeem to score an 88th minute winner and rock the Reds’ title bid.

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The build-up to that late winner proved a huge talking point, as referee Damien MacGraith, who was embroiled in controversy only 10 days earlier when he mistakenly awarded Derry City a late penalty against Shamrock Rovers, appeared to get it wrong again.

John Martin was brought down by Pat’s midfielder Aaron Bolger, but MacGraith awarded a free in Bolger’s favour. Moments later, the ball was in the back of the Shelbourne net.

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Duff blasted afterwards: “The three goals we've given away are ridiculous, you won't win a game at any level.

“But we've got ourselves back in the game. The third goal, yet again, soft. You can dissect it and there's a lot in it.

“I just have to say, the lead up to it. A mind boggling decision. John Martin is going down the line. I think it's Joe (Redmond - it was Bolger) from behind, he rugby tackles John and the free kick is given the other way.

“They're not excuses but six, seven seconds later they score. A crazy, crazy decision.

“Yeah, edge, emotion, fire, happy to see all of that back. I thought obviously the two goals, wonderful. A hard one to take.”

Duff had no complaints, however, about the red card shown in the dying moments to goalscorer Smith for an off-the-ball incident with Bolger.

That decision will cost the Shels ace a spot in Sunday’s crunch clash with Shamrock Rovers.

“Yeah, it's a red,” he said. “I'm sure you have seen it back. John (Martin), I'll have to see that (incident - a foul on Kian Leavy) back but I think it's naughty as well, he's lucky to escape more punishment.

“But, yeah, here, the difference tonight, Pat's stone cold killers, it sounds strange because we've scored two wonderful goals.

“I thought at times and especially the first half, we've played through them at will, but we got to the final third and… ooof.

“The one thing at half-time it was just about playing with that freedom in the final third. We're not that structured there at all.

“And letting loose and showing their quality and they did to get back in the game.”

He added: “I presume (Smith’s suspension) kicks in straight away, a straight red, that’s his ground, he is always brilliant up there. So he’ll be a miss.

“But I can’t condone what he did. Initially I thought it was a body-check, they just ran into each other, but when you see it back and Aaron is on the ground it’s poor.

“That’s what I mean about emotion. He has gone over the edge. But football is nothing without energy and emotion.

“So he is a loss, Aido (O’Brien) took a bad contact, Griff (Shane Griffin) will probably be out, so it’s bare bones.

“But that never rattled me before and it’s not going to rattle me now, even if we have to turn up to Tallaght with 12 players. It is what it is.”

Shels have recorded just one win in their last nine games - hardly the form of champions - but they remain four points clear of Derry City with four games left to play.

The Candystripes have an extra game, but Duff says he isn’t concerned about his side’s recent run.

“Is it a worry? I don’t go home worrying, I just go home and work hard and try to come up with a plan for the next game,” he said.

“When you look at that as an isolated one in nine, that fact is not great when you are trying to win a title.

“But we are top after 32, so I could counter you with that.

“If we just strip it back, are we in great form results-wise? Absolutely not.

“But I never give up, I’ll go to the death, it’s still in our hands, two home games, two away games, would I have taken this at the start of the season? I’m sick of saying that but here I am again saying it.”

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