Waterford manager Marc Bircham was furious in his post-match interview last night, after the Blues crashed out of the FAI Cup following a late Bohemians goal in the semi-final at Dalymount Park.
The Blues had two men sent off on the night - with Kyle Ferguson receiving his marching orders on 52 minutes for a second yellow card, before captain Niall O'Keeffe was dismissed seconds from the end for a similar offence.
A penalty was also awarded against Waterford in the first half with Brian Murphy adjudged to have brought down Georgie Kelly in the area.
Speaking to Matt Keane at full time, Bircham says the heartbreak was almost expected. He questioned the legitimacy of the draw which saw Bohemians and St. Patrick's Athletic handed home cup semi-finals.
"This wasn't unbelievable to me - we expected what was going to happen. The ref situation wasn't dealt with in the last game at Shamrock Rovers - and it overspilled, into this game. Whether it's coincidence, coincidence having a see-through ball with numbers on it to do a draw and they're not stirred - maybe that's a coincidence. Maybe it's a coincidence that exactly what we thought might happen, happened tonight with the officiating."
Bircham said he was holding back on what he wanted to say for fear of being fined, but said he thought the penalty awarded was harsh while Bohs' late winner was also offside in his eyes.
He says the Blues could have no complaints about Kyle Ferguson's red card - but there was no way that Niall O'Keeffe should have received his marching orders late on.
"Kyle's is a sending off. It's stupid and naive by him how he's got himself into that situation - two identical bookings. He's disappointed in there himself and knows he's done bad. I'm not going to have a go at Kyle but it's not a mistake if he learns from it. Niall's second booking at the end is never a second booking. He's been bundled over by Georgie Kelly and gets a second booking. That just sums up what the referee was about."
Asked if the Blues were playing for a replay at the RSC on Monday - Bircham says he doesn't believe it would have been allowed to happen.
"I don't think it would have been allowed to happen. Replay wouldn't have been allowed to happen. Something would've happened. Another sending off, maybe another penalty. Maybe I'm just being too critical and there's a few conspiracy theories going around - but we thought it was going to happen in the game, and there's been a penalty and two sending offs. You do the maths."
