The spotlight focused on the match officials after a controversial double sending-off in a disappointing clash of the joint League leaders, Cork City and Bray Wanderers, at Turner's Cross yesterday.

Colin O'Brien of Cork and Maurice Farrell of Bray were dismissed after the fourth official had intervened to draw the referee's attention to a clash between the players in the 51st minute.

O'Brien tumbled to the ground when he collided with Farrell as he tried to chase after a long clearance. As the ball was cleared to the opposite end of the pitch O'Brien jumped angrily to his feet and there appeared to be a clash of heads as both players got involved in verbal exchanges.

The fourth official called the referee's attention and after delivering his report the referee, Dick O'Hanlon of Waterford, showed both players the red card. It seemed an over-reaction to a relatively minor incident.

Bray manager, Pat Devlin, said he was surprised the referee's assistant running the line had not adjudicated on an incident that had occurred very close to him.

Cork City manager Derek Mountfield said: "The fourth official made the decision. Colin (O'Brien) said he had been kicked and when he reacted angrily both players squared up and the fourth official apparently saw a head-butt. I'm not going to get involved in discussing the referee but I thought it was a poor performance."

The fact that so much attention centred on the red cards incident was a commentary on the disappointing level of entertainment. Cork enjoyed more of the play but their finishing was very poor and they only came close to scoring when Pat Morley struck an upright after four minutes and Declan Daly had a shot taken off the line by Mick Doohan in the 90th minute.

Bray had two great chances in the closing stages, but Jason Byrne hit the side-netting from a narrow angle after taking the ball around goalkeeper Mooney in the 79th minute, and then had a shot saved in added time when a square ball across an open goal would surely have produced a winner for the unmarked substitute, John Ryan.

"I was disappointed in the end we didn't win it," said Devlin. "Had we scored either of the two late chances that Jason had we surely would."

CORK CITY: Mooney; O'Halloran, Napier (O'Donoghue 82), Daly, Horgan; Herrick, Flanagan, Freyne (Delaney 86); O'Brien, Cahill (Caulfield 69), Morley.

BRAY WANDERERS: Walsh; Tresson, Doohan, Farrell; P O'Brien, Gormley, Long (G Brien 87), Keogh, Gifford; K O'Brien (Ryan 75), Byrne.

Referee: D O'Hanlon (Waterford).

Dundalk leapfrogged Athlone Town to go back to the top of the first division table on goal difference after a comfortable 2-0 defeat of Monaghan United at Oriel Park on Saturday night.

John Flanagan, with a superb effort on the hour, and Greg O'Dowd gave Dundalk their third successive win.

Padraig Moran scored twice as Sligo Rovers played out a 2-2 draw with Limerick FC.