Cunningham blasts ref over ‘harsh’ decision

ROSCOMMON manager Anthony Cunningham labelled the refereeing decision that cost his team a win over Tyrone yesterday ‘harsh.’ Cunningham’s team looked set for a surprise win when referee Noel Mooney awarded them a 20-metre free in front of the posts in the fifth minute of injury at Hyde Park with the teams deadlocked at 1-10 apiece. But when Tyrone goalkeeper Niall Morgan went to ground holding his head in the immediate aftermath of the foul, Mooney, after consulting his umpires, overturned the free and gave a ‘hop ball.’ It left Cunningham frustrated afterwards: ‘I think in a lot of situations you don’t get that overturned. It was quite harsh. ‘We just take the referees decision but it was strange enough one,’ admitted the Roscommon manager, who admitted that it could prove costly. Roscommon are on three points after three games but a second win would have been a timely boost in their bid to stay in the Allianz League’s top tier. ‘Absolutely. It is massive competition in this division. ‘We are happy but we would be happier if we won.’