Exasperated Drogheda United boss Kevin Doherty launched a scathing attack on the standard of officiating in the League of Ireland after a controversial stoppage-time penalty saw his side fall to a 2-1 defeat on the road against Waterford FC.
Mark Doyle bundled the ball over the line after six minutes to give Drogs the perfect start, but an alert Tommy Lonergan restored parity at a rain-lashed RSC in the 35th minute from close range.
In a frenetic finish, Drogheda's Thomas Oluwa was denied a penalty in the 86th minute after appearing to be brought down in the area. However, things got much worse for the visitors deep into stoppage time.
Despite a numerical advantage at the back, Drogheda failed to deal with a speculative long ball, which Lonergan was allowed to gallop on to. While the United defence was caught napping, Fynn Talley certainly wasn't, and the advancing goalkeeper got a key touch to divert the ball out of the path of the Waterford forward.
However, Lonergan went to ground, and to the surprise of even the most fervent Blues supporters, referee Neil Doyle awarded a penalty, which Lonergan himself stepped up to dispatch to win the game.
The decision that led to Waterford's winner 👇 pic.twitter.com/XskyHIID9t
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) May 18, 2026
Prior to the spot-kick, an apoplectic Doherty saw red for his protests, and the Drogheda manager's ire was evident in his post-match interview with LOITV.
"I can't believe it, I've never seen anything like it in my life," the shellshocked Doherty opined.
"People will say 'here he goes again' but just have a look."
He then added: "It's so, so so – I could add 'so' a hundred times and it wouldn't be enough – poor.
"And again, here I go again. Neil Doyle – absolutely excellent referee and a brilliant fella – but it's in my opinion possibly one of the worst (decisions) I've ever seen."
Doherty stressed the impact of the penalty could be crucial in their season. They sit in eighth place, just three points above Sligo Rovers in the promotion/relegation play-off position, in a cramped bottom half of the division.
"It's an emotional game, football, and me probably more than a lot of people," he admitted.
"But that just kills you, that stuff. It's not good enough. I'm sure people won't like me saying that. People that will be watching on in certain places.
"The ramifications of this are if we win the game tonight, we go fifth in the table.
"It's not good enough."
In Doherty's view, Lonergan's penalty could have been nothing more than a consolation goal, had Drogheda proven more clinical in front of goal. However, the dismayed manager soon returned to the standard of officiating.
"We should have won the game ourselves, I'll absolutely take that, because we had serious chances," he said.
"But that's not acceptable, in my opinion.
"I'm not coming after anybody personally, as I said. The people involved, I'm very, very fond of, but I can't accept that and I don't think anybody in the league should accept it."
Kevin Doherty's thoughts on a dramatic night in the RSC for his Drogheda United side. pic.twitter.com/bbLsHtQoiq
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) May 18, 2026
A real-time viewing of the penalty decision had already led to Doherty's unshakeable view that a spot-kick was the wrong call, rendering his viewing of the replay redundant.
Doherty also admitted that his protestations would be pounced upon by fans of other clubs, due to the perception – justified or not – that he has form for quibbling with referees.
"I've seen it back, I didn't have to see it back, I'm looking straight at it," he blasted.
"There is only one person in the whole stadium that thought that was a penalty.
"As I said, I don't want to get into any more trouble – I'm already suspended for something I didn't do – but here he goes again, moany, crying Kev, blah, blah.
"But it all comes from that one thing – us losing that one point."
In his parting shots, Doherty added: "I guarantee you, there are people watching this that didn't want me to do this interview, I can promise you, because they knew I was going to speak the truth.
"As I said, I'm known and probably get accused of being emotional. That's the way I am because it means so much to me. It means so much to Drogheda United, what happened here tonight. It was not acceptable. It shouldn't be tolerated any more.
"The league is progressing and getting better and better and better.
"I have utmost respect for the officials, the referee in particular tonight, because I know him a long, long time. I think he is a brilliant fella. But the standard has been way, way off.
"We're trying to raise standards, and I'm not the first person to say this and certainly, if stuff like that keeps happening, I won't be the last."
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