Boyle: "Penalty decision difficult to take"

Boyle had a superb game himself, marshalling Dundalk’s back-four in the absence of Brian Gartland. However, the Dubliner was penalised in the 55th minute for handling the ball inside the penalty area, with Nemanja Nikolic converting the spot-kick to give Legia an undeserved advantage at that stage in proceedings.

Boyle had bravely blocked a shot by Warsaw’s winger Steeven Langil before seeing the ball hit his right-arm. Despite his limb being in a natural position down by his side, German referee Deniz Aytekin awarded Legia the dubious penalty, a decision which Boyle understandably disagrees with.

Boyle said: “It [the penalty decision] was a very difficult one to take. There isn’t much that you can do with your hands. I suppose you go to block the ball as a defender and you can’t lose them [your hands], you can’t make them disappear so it’s a difficult one to take.

“We seen it [the incident] straight after the game and obviously it’s a bit raw at the minute. I think to give it is harsh, I thought that it was harsh at the time and it’s really hitting home now when you see it back on the video. It’s difficult to take to be honest.”

Their defeat was compounded by the fact that for long stages the Lilywhites were the more dominant team, with Patrick McEleney and Daryl Horgan menaces in attack for Stephen Kenny’s side. Boyle, though, rues the concession of the late second scored by Legia substitute, Aleksandar Prijovic.

“Throughout the game I thought we played well and passed the ball well. We created a few chances, but I think in the last 15 to 20 minutes we would’ve liked to have created a few more [chances], and then it was a real sucker punch to let in the second goal. I thought it was an even enough game and if anything, we probably created the better chances, but that swings it their way and it’s a tough one to take to be honest.

“We were probably a bit naïve [having so many players up forward] and letting them score on the breakaway. It gives them a little momentum going into the game next week.

“1-0 wouldn’t have been the worst result, but 2-0 makes it a mountain to climb, but we’ll try to get the first goal [next week] and we’ll make a good fist of it.”

Dundalk will have to mount their comeback effort minus their inspirational captain Stephen O’Donnell, outstanding on the night, who picked up his third yellow-card in Europe this season having been cautioned in both legs against FH Hafnarfjordur. Boyle acknowledges that the Galwegian will be missed in Poland.

“Stephen has been excellent for us and you seen tonight, he was brilliant for us throughout. He’s our captain and we’ll miss him but we’ve got people who can take their chance, the likes of Robbie Benson came on tonight and we know how good Robbie is and that’s the reason that we’ve gotten a strong squad.”

Boyle concluded his interview positively by pointing to Dundalk’s heroic victory over Hajduk Split two years ago. Placed in a similarly precarious position, the Lilywhites battled back to win the second leg in Croatia 2-1, if not the tie which they lost 3-2 on aggregate. The defender is confident that they can repeat those heroics and go one better by prevailing in the tie in Warsaw next Tuesday.

“We were obviously devastated to concede the goal in the 94th minute. 2-0 gives us a mountain to climb, but we’ve done it before, going to Split [in 2014].”