Darren Murphy got a card he wouldn’t have wanted this Christmas as Dungannon Swifts were floored by a late, late goal on Boxing Day.
The Dungannon boss was sent off for protesting against a penalty which wasn’t awarded as Ballinamallard ended a run of three straight losses at Stangmore Park.
Craig Hill was the unlikely hero with a 93rd minute strike after a pulsating Tyrone-Fermanagh derby.
But all the post-match focus was on a penalty decision which had gone against Dungannon.
It came when a Ballinamallard defender appeared to handle the ball after tripping in the box – but the home side’s appeals were ignored.
At the final whistle, Murphy was sent from the dugout after an angry exchange with the referee, and headed straight to the officials’ room after the match.
When he emerged, his mood had not improved.
“I’m very disappointed that once again we come away from a football match talking about the referee rather than the game,” he said.
“I don’t know how he didn’t see it. It was a blatant hand-ball. It was impossible not to see it.
“This was a decent game of football between two teams who play the right way, created plenty of chances and provided entertainment for the fans. But everyone will talk about the referee.”
Murphy was also unhappy that his side failed to capitalise on a series of terrific chances.
Ryan O’Neill forced Alvin Rouse to make a terrific save from his free-kick in the first half while Johnny Topley hit the crossbar towards the end.
“I was frustrated we didn’t take our chances,” Murphy added.
“We created enough chances to win the game, didn’t take them and were caught at the end. We’ve caught teams at the end ourselves, it’s disappointing but that is football.
“I can’t fault the players for their effort or work-rate or anything like that, the thing that bitterly disappoints me is that we are talking about the referee.”
Leon Carters twice went close for Ballinamallard, rattling the left post with a first half effort while seeing a header brilliantly tipped over by Niall Morgan after half-time.
But it seemed the match would finish in stalemate until Hill’s late, late goal.
A counter attack from the visitors saw the right-back surge forward before planting a low strike in the bottom left-hand corner.
DGN SWIFTS: Morgan, R O’Neill, Montgomery, Friars, Grieve, S Lavery, Fitzpatrick (Hutchinson, 70), Topley, C Lavery, McKerr, S O’Neill (PJ Lavery, 81)
Subs not used: Brennan, Glackin, Harpur
BALLINAMALLARD: Rouse, Keohane, Charters, Stafford, Kee, Curran, Campbell, Crawford (Sheridan, 78), McCartney (Martin, 71), McKenna, Hill
Subs not used: McGrath, O’Grady, Feeney
Referee: Arnold Hunter (Maguiresbridge)