Corry surprised Barrett played on as barbs continue

RTÉ soccer analyst Paul Corry believes Cian Barrett should have been taken off by Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley even if it meant they had to try and hold on with 10 men against Dundalk in a game that sparked a war of words between the two managers.

Barrett, who came on early in the second half on Friday night, was caught by Dundalk defender Bobby Burns in the 68th minute as the champions held on for a 3-2 league win in Tallaght.

With all five substitutions made, Barrett played on despite continuing to show the ill-effects of the challenge. Ultimately he was stretchered off in additional time after another collision.

With the temperature raised throughout – Dundalk's Daryl Horgan was confronted by a supporter after scoring a first-half penalty – Bradley took aim at Burns in his post-match media duties.

"That's career-ending stuff. That’s a shocking tackle from the left-back. It’s disgusting, it’s a coward’s tackle," he told Virgin Media Sport.

"He knows exactly what he’s going to do. The whistle has gone, the game has stopped and he’s come right through the back and side of him.

"Pico Lopes gets done for three games last week for violent conduct. It doesn’t get more violent than that on a football pitch. That’s shocking."

In reply, Dundalk manager Ciarán Kilduff shot back.

"I don’t even think it was the worst tackle of the match, so to say it was the worst in the league in 10 years is hyperbole," he told the Irish Sun.

"I know he mentioned it but maybe he could have been more condemning of the supporter who came onto the pitch after our second goal."

"We don’t know if leaving him on the pitch has made it worse," Kilduff added.

"The most important thing for me in this - and this is important - is I hope Cian’s injury isn’t too bad.

"I went over, and Bobby did, to see how he was. Stephen never spoke to me or any of my staff about the incident but then there was a personal hit piece afterwards. It’s a coward’s interview."

Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1’s Saturday Sport, Corry agreed with Kilduff that Barrett should have been taken off, although he said that the television coverage made it impossible to really determine the nature of Burns’ challenge.

"I'm not sure where I stand on the tackle," said Corry.

"It was kind of difficult watching on the television last night because we didn't have the reverse angle.

"The incident takes place right in front of the Shamrock Rovers dug-out and Stephen Bradley is standing, as he always does, on the edge of it.

"Bobby Burns definitely wins the ball with the challenge, but it's a situation whereby I think he knows that he can leave a bit on the player.

"I think in fairness to Burns, I think he was committed to it and Cian Barrett's body language somewhat suggested that he was committed to that collision as well.

"But I think for Stephen Bradley and for the management of Shamrock Rovers, they felt as if there was enough time that he could have pulled out of it and avoided the situation completely.

"Now, that took place I think around the 72nd minute. Burns was booked in the 72nd minute for that incident.

"I'll be honest with you, I was counting down the minutes on behalf of Cian Barrett between the incident taking place and the final whistle. It was so hard to watch, he was limping around the pitch.

"I don't know what the extent of the injury is, whether it's a broken leg or a broken ankle, but it certainly looked as if it might be one of the two. Any time he touched the ball, he was in complete agony. I was surprised that nobody from the Shamrock Rovers’ backroom team, medical team or Stephen Bradley himself didn't pull him off the pitch."

Referee Rob Harvey handed out 11 yellow cards – including to both managers – having also shown Rovers coach Sean Kavanagh a red in the tunnel at half-time during an eventful night in Dublin. Barrett was also cautioned towards the end of the game for a challenge on Harry Groome.

Corry felt that the match official didn’t have his best evening’s work.

"I wouldn't often come out and criticise referees, but I thought Rob Harvey had an absolute shocker yesterday," he said.

"In the first half, there were a couple of incidents. One in particular, Matt Healy gets booked for stopping a Dundalk breakaway and it’s replicated exactly two minutes later where Shamrock Rovers were breaking, (Jonathan) Afolabi was brought down by (Aodh) Dervan and he failed to produce a yellow card.

"I thought he missed an awful lot in the first half as well and I think that was just boiling between Stephen Bradley and Glenn Cronin (Shamrock Rovers assistant coach)."

Click here to read article