DUBLIN referee Pat Dempsey incurred the wrath of Dave Barry following yesterday's scoreless encounter, at the Carlisle Grounds, which put a dent in the visiting side's title hopes.

The Cork manager was livid following Dave Hill's 34th minute dismissal for a second bookable offence. To compound matters, Bray defender Jody Lynch, in the eyes of the visitors anyway, upended Ollie Cahill outside the box. Lynch got away with just a yellow card with Gareth Cronin's free crashing off the upright.

Barry made no secret of his displeasure towards yesterday's match officials and the matter is sure to widen the rift between managers and referees.

Not surprisingly Bray manager Pat Devlin had a slightly different view of proceedings.

From where I was standing, I thought Dave's (Hill) challenge was definitely a bookable offence. I wish to God he had stayed, it's no fun playing against 10 men, no matter what anyone says.

"As for Jody (Lynch), I thought he got the ball before the player and I'm quite sure the cameras will back me up. It was probably our worst performance but we've played some smashing stuff this season and come away with nothing so I can't complain too much."

Indeed, Bray created the better chances but were not helped by a pitch that was ravaged by the winter conditions of the past few days. The game was only seven minutes old when Bray's Kieran O'Brien crossed to top marksman Richie Parsons who was denied only by a splendid save from Noel Mooney.

The game then entered something of a sloppy period but sparked back into life on the half hour with chances falling at each end to Parsons and Cahill.

The stakes were then raised with Hill's dismissal following a rash tackle on Parsons. Bray, however, were unable to capitalise for the remainder the game with some pretty inept finishing consigning them to their first no score draw of the season.