Clarke calamity gifts win to Dundalk
A goalkeeping howler by Brendan Clarke gifted Dundalk a 2-1 victory over St. Patrick's Athletic at Richmond Park tonight.
But St. Pat’s felt they were robbed of the chance of a point by Cork referee Alan Kelly for not giving them a late penalty for a handball in this game of two halves.
John Dillon’s third penalty of the season had Dundalk deservedly ahead form the 41st minute after Ger O'Brien had taken down Keith Ward.
Conan Byrne levelled on the hour when tapping home a Sean Gannon cross. But Clarke blundered to allow Kurtis Byrne to take the ball off his from O'Brien's back pass to restore Dundalk’s lead two minutes later.
Saints were then livid when Dundalk skipper Dane Massey appeared to deflect Christy Fagan’s 85th-minute shot round a post with his arm.
Elsewhere, Shamrock Rovers finished with 10 men as they had to settle for their fifth draw of the season as Limerick held them to a 1-1 scoreline at Thomond Park.
Winger Sean O'Connor put Rovers ahead after just nine minutes when he dispossessed Limerick skipper Joe Gamble to run on and shoot past keeper Shane Cusack.
Limerick drew level on 29 minutes. Stephen Folan put over an excellent cross and striker Craig Curran shot low to the net.
Rovers had central defender Ken Oman sent off in the 49th minute for a foul on Curran, his second booking.
