YOUCANNOTBE SERIOUS!
Umpire woe but McGrath lets officials off the hook
WATERFORD manager Derek McGrath refused to blame referee Alan Kelly or his umpires after a disputed goal became the focus of attention in another dramatic episode in the new-look Munster Championship which saw Tipperary come from 11 points down with 14 men to snatch a draw.
‘When you have your knife in someone’s throat you have to twist it and we didn’t do that, unfortunately,’ he said of Waterford’s failure to kill off Tipperary with the Munster group still all up for grabs.
The big talking point was the controversial goal awarded to Tipperary when Jason Forde’s free from distance was caught at the second attempt by Austin Gleeson on the goalline, only for one of referee Kelly’s umpires to wave his green flag for a goal in the 62nd minute to bring Tipperary to within a point.
That he didn’t consult with the umpire nearest to the incident — or the referee — before making such a huge call left Waterford incensed. In a remarkable show of restraint though, McGrath refused to cut loose at the match officials.
A late, late Ronan Maher shot was also
initially waved wide by the same umpire — only to be awarded as a point by Kelly. ‘Whilst we might be disappointed in decisions we have to be just aware of the fact that they are making the decisions in good faith, and I think it was a decision made in good faith.’ McGrath too doesn’t want to see the GAA rush to follow the lead of soccer and introduce goalline technology or a Video Assistant Referee. ‘Remember Gerry Murphy, who got the goal for Kerry all those years ago against Tipperary that bounced off the stanchion? If we get too technical there’d be no emotive reaction to anything. ‘We’ll take it on the chin the way we’ve taken other decisions. It might be contradictory but I think hurling is one game that doesn’t need technology. It takes away from the flow. Mistakes are part of
every game, we make enough of them on the line and on the field. ‘We’d have two points on the board if the goal hadn’t been given but I haven’t seen it to say with any definite stance that we were robbed — and I wouldn’t say that anyway. ‘I think the goal acted as a catalyst for Tipp to come, as did the Bonner Maher goal. It was something they needed, and they’re the kinds of decisions you look back on at the end of the year.’ He paid a rich tribute to Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh who surpassed 10-time All-Ireland winner Henry Shefflin in the all-time Championship appearance list. His 72nd appearance puts him one off the top. ‘He has 68 consecutive appearances, which is incredible — I think Brendan Cummins has the record at 73 — and I’m on the record that he’s the greatest team player ever to play for Waterford.’ Waterford selector Dan Shanhan said the goal cost the team badly. ‘Sometimes you just know by the reaction of your goalkeeper. He was adamant that it didn’t go in. It was no goal, and it’s after costing us a point. But it’s dog eat dog in Munster.’ Tipperary manager Michael Ryan (below) described the dismissal of corner-back Michael Cahill on a second yellow as ‘harsh’ and paid tribute to his own team for a storming fightback. ‘It was fold the tents and get nothing out of this game or fight it out. That’s not in their DNA. They don’t do it. ‘We don’t give in, we won’t give in. Look, if we didn’t get those bounces, I wouldn’t be here talking to you… well I’d be here talking to you alright but I’d be crying!’