McGrath and Mahony prove class acts

WHEN it comes to classy reaction to a crushing setback, the responses from Derek McGrath and Pauric Mahony after Tipperary’s ‘goal that wasn’t’ against Waterford last Sunday will take some beating anywhere in sport this year.

The error in awarding a goal when the ball clearly didn’t cross the line most likely cost Waterford a win, which could ultimately end their All-Ireland ambitions.

It was hard for Waterford to take, especially in the raw minutes immediately after the game but it was precisely at that stage that McGrath and Mahony showed their class.

“We’ll take it on the chin, the way we’ve taken other decisions. Mistakes are part of the game, we make enough of them on the line and on the field,” said McGrath (right).

“That’s sport. The umpires only have a second to make these decisions and it’s tough on them too,” said Mahony.

There were plenty others prepared to mount the outrage horse on Waterford’s behalf, presumably from the privileged position of never having made a mistake in their lives.

Yes, it was an error to award the goal but was it the only example of mistakes leading to crucial scores last weekend, or any other weekend for that matter?

Patrick Horgan took at least seven steps with ball in hand (only four are allowed under rule) before scoring Cork’s goal in their clash with Limerick on Saturday evening, yet it attracted nothing like the same level of attention as Tipp’s goal on Sunday.

But then it appears that over-carrying has now become a rule that’s applied very sparingly.

Still on mistakes, I did Shane Dooley a disservice by inadvertently attributing Offaly’s penalty miss against Dublin on Sunday to him when, in fact, Joe Bergin was the striker. Apologies Shane.