Keith Long: ‘I can't get drawn into condemning the referees. We are disappointed with the decision we didn't get tonight.’

Keith Long not happy with a crucial decision that didn't go their way in Tallaght

Keith Long not happy with a crucial decision that didn't go their way in Tallaght Credit: Eddie Lennon (ETPhotos)

David Wilson reports from Tallaght Stadium

Shortly before the halftime whistle, Kris Twardek looked to have got the better of Lee Grace as they tussled in the penalty area. The rangy Canadian winger went down, the Bohemians supporters demanded a penalty, but referee Rob Hennessey waved play on. 

“It was a penalty. You guys saw it as well as I did. We shouldn't be bemoaning the referees but we are again, unfortunately,” said Keith Long.

“We want the league to improve, to prosper; we want to raise the bar and raise the standards, look at the stadium tonight, a full house, rocking, a great stadium, and this is the example for every other club to aspire to. But we shouldn't come away talking about the decisions of the officials. It's not really acceptable at this point.

“I'm in the league a long time, you guys have been on the circuit a long time, and I don't think this debate will ever end, really. Referees are human and they have to make decision on the spot.

“I can't get drawn into condemning the referees. We are disappointed with the decision we didn't get tonight,” said Long.

At the centre of the penalty storm, Grace denied that he fouled Twardek. 

“No, (it was) a bit of a wrestle. I knew he was there but I just couldn’t see him, so I just got an arm on him, held him off, flicked it (the ball) with my left leg. That’s what I can remember but I haven’t seen it back. But never a peno, no,” said Grace. 

The Tipperary man has been on the wrong end of some questionable refereeing decisions in previous fixtures against their northside rivals but was glad to find himself on the right side of the decision tonight.



“Especially there in that box but I don’t think it was a peno. There was another one there last week in Pat’s when Eoin Doyle went down easy and I don’t think that was a peno either.

"When we got up and we were running off, he said, ‘Yeah you didn’t touch me.’ They’re the ones that are sometimes given against you but thankfully not tonight.”

Hoops boss Stephen Bradley praised referee Hennessey after the game.

“I thought the ref, and I've said it a number of times, I think he's the best in the country. He managed the game well, he didn't get caught up in nonsense, he gave a few bookings out when there needed to be but he managed the game really well,” said Bradley.

Substitute Daniel Mandroiu also had claims waved away for a penalty after he went down in the box.

“I thought if either us or them got the penalty, it would have been soft and thankfully he didn't give one because we've seen with these games in the past, decisions like that change games, really soft decisions, he didn't get sucked into that.”



Champions Rovers now move on to a tough away trip to Oriel Park to face an unbeaten Dundalk side. Bohemians will aim to bounce back to winning ways when they take on neighbours Shelbourne in Dalymount Park on Monday night. 

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