'The referee told me it's a clear foul. It's a refereeing mistake' - Doherty stunned as Drogs set to launch appeal
Jack Keaney received a fifth career red card on Monday as Drogheda United were well beaten by Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium.

Kevin Doherty described Jack Keaney’s straight red card against Shamrock Rovers on Monday evening as an “awful” refereeing mistake - and says the club will likely appeal the dismissal to an Independent Appeal Committee.
The defender was sent off by referee Rob Hennessy in the 72nd minute of the game at Tallaght Stadium on Monday evening, with Drogheda United 0-3 down against the reigning champions. Rovers’ striker Johnny Kenny was running through on goal and with Keaney in pursuit, he fell to the ground just outside the area.
United conceded another minutes later as they suffered their biggest defeat of the season to date - and their heaviest loss since their last trip to Tallaght, a 0-5 reverse last October.
On the appeals process, Doherty said: “I know the appeals process has changed, you can appeal it a bit better. I’ll have to talk to people. I don’t think there has any being overturned yet. Jack is an important player for us, we can’t afford to lose him.
“We’ll have a look, we can’t just say ‘ah yeah, go ahead’. I’m not 100 percent sure on the cost and all that but I suppose if we win it, it’ll be alright. From what you are are telling me, I’d be fairly confident.”
The Drogs manager said Keaney’s dismissal would be a “a test for that appeals process.”
He added: “If what everyone is saying to me is right, and what my eyes are telling me, that’s a big one.”
If, as expected, the club appeal, an Independent Appeal Committee will hear Drogheda’s argument before ruling whether Keaney will serve a one-game* ban as per the FAI disciplinary regulations.
The centre-back is set to miss Friday’s trip to Inchicore to face St Patrick’s Athletic but will return for the Louth Derby at Weavers Park on Monday.
“It’s not a foul. It’s awful,” Doherty said post-match. “I spoke to the referee afterwards and he told me it’s a clear foul, not what I saw it wasn’t. I have to look at it properly, I’d be a very disappointed in that decision.
“I’m not trying to deflect from the performance or the result but I just can’t see it. Do you try and get help, there’s not just one official, there are four officials. They need to wait a minute and think about it rather than a quick flash of the red card. Rob is probably one of the best of the referees in the country.
“We all make mistakes, I make plenty of mistakes, players make mistakes, I think that’s a refereeing mistakes.
The Drogheda manager continued: “I couldn’t believe it, I thought he slipped. Genuinely, it was like ‘oh here it’s another one’ - things were going against us. I don’t mean decisions, but just the way the game was going. You’d rather 4-0 than four 1-0s, we just wanted to shut up shop, but with that sending off…it is hard enough with 11 men. With all the talk of the injuries, the players they have are unbelievable.”