THE REFEREE, Dick O'Hanlon, was the centre of controversy at Turner's Cross yesterday when he denied Cork City what appeared a certain penalty midway through the second half of a disappointing league tie.

The incident occurred when Home Farm centre back Brendan Place tripped and fell in his own penalty area as he moved to tackle Cork's Colin O'Brien. As O'Brien stepped around the prone Place he was grabbed by the ankle and lost his balance, but the referee and linesman failed to see the incident as a penalty.

It was Cork's best opportunity on a day when their attack lacked inspiration and were held with relative ease by a confident Home Farm defence. Home Farm were sustained by the continuing brilliance of goalkeeper Robert Forde.

He made a string of important saves, most notably just before half time when Noel Hartigan met a cross from John Caulfield for a powerful header that was turned outside at full stretch by Forde.

Home Farm worked extremely hard despite their lowly league position. They often threatened on the break and Liam Kelly lost several chances of snatching a win.

His best chance came a minute before the end when he was unmarked near the penalty spot to reach a cross from Graham Doyle, but his header flew straight into the arms of a grateful Phil Harrington.