Hibs and Athenry share spoils as game ends in controversy

Date Published: {J}

Hibernians 2

Athenry 2

Mike Rafferty

The Western Hygiene Supplies Premier Division clash between Hibs and Athenry ended in controversy on Saturday with Hibs awarded a late penalty, which they equalised from, only then to have a winner chalked off with referee Patsy Forde blowing the full-time whistle as Conor Cleary chipped Athenry ‘keeper Kieran Kilkelly to put the ball in the net.

The post-match discussion between referee’s assessor Gay Flaherty and Forde lasted almost 10 minutes and based on the hand signals from the duo, the conversation was an animated one and no doubt there was plenty of incidents to discuss.

From a match point of view this was an outcome in which neither side were happy as controversy reigned in the closing minutes, while it certainly appears that the official got two vital calls incorrect and while in terms of fairness they balanced one another out, but they certainly left a lot of talking points.

The defending champions led by 2-1 as the game entered the final five minutes. Certainly the home side were trying to rescue something from a competitive game and were putting the pressure on. On 81 minutes, following a Shane Maher corner a Shane Maughan header was cleared off the line clearly by the body of substitute Alan O’Donovan.

A Hibernians player quickly gathered the ball and was running towards the corner flag to take the set piece, but Forde pointed to the penalty spot, and after lengthy debate over the decision, Keith Ward sent Kilkelly the wrong way to tie up matters at 2-2.

Then as the game ticked into the fifth minute of injury time Hibernians looked to have nicked a winner. A Ward ball from the centre circle resulted in Cleary beating the central defenders to possession just outside the box and the striker executed a perfect lob over the advancing Kilkelly – only for Forde to blow the final whistle as the ball entered the empty net.

Again more confusion reigned as questions were asked if it was offside or full time, and with the latter the answer, the Bohermore outfit were not exactly pleased with this outcome. More discussions and protests and for those mature enough to remember, the last action had shades of a disallowed World Cup goal many years ago, when Welsh referee Clive Thomas cancelled out a winning Brazilian header as the ball was in the process of crossing the line.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.