Declan Devine and David Healy offered up differing analysis of the deciding spot kicks
It will perhaps come as no surprise that David Healy and Declan Devine had different views on the penalties which decided the first Big Two clash of the season.
It’s always blood and thunder when Glentoran and Linfield meet and Friday night’s Oval showdown was no different with plenty of thrills, spills and missed opportunities.
The Blues could have been two up inside five minutes but instead found themselves a goal down on 21 minutes as Pat Hoban slotted home from the spot after Kirk Millar was adjudged to have clipped James Singleton as he tried to clear inside the box.
“For me, and I can look at with my Linfield hat on, I thought the first one was very dubious and soft,” said Healy on the decision.
“Again the referee felt he had seen enough to make the decision, I thought it was the wrong decision, but again I’m going to say that.
“If we’re going to give penalties for let’s say minimal contact then there’s going to be a lot of penalties awarded.”
The Blues kept pushing for a leveller and they tied things up on 62 minutes as Chris Shields fired home from 12 yards after Marcus Kane’s tangle with Matthew Fitzpatrick.
Devine though questioned referee Ben McMaster’s call saying: “I have to see it back again because I think it’s very close to being outside the box.”
The Glens boss though felt overall a draw was a fair result and praised both teams for their efforts.
“It was nothing surprising. Frantic, end-to-end, tackles flying in,” he said.
“At this stage of the season you have to give credit to both teams, they were relentless in their pursuit to win the game.
“As the season goes on both teams will probably get better but a draw is probably a fair result.”
