W ex ford to complain about D.J.’s steps

August 1991

Wexford Co. G.A.A. Board is to protest ‘in the strongest possible manner’ to the Leinster Council over the handling by Laois referee Pat Delaney of the Wexford versus Kilkenny Leinster championship semi-final clash played last June.

The manner of Kilkenny’s last-gasp victory – when D. J. Carey was allowed to run an inordinate number of steps – coupled with a number of other such incidents in which Wexford have always been on the receiving end, has prompted this strong stance by the Co. Board.

What they are attempting to do is put down a marker for Leinster Council by declaring, in the words of Co. Chairman, Joe O’Shaughnessy, that Wexford was ‘fed up of being the doormat for every other county’.

And Wexford will also press for a full review of the manner in which referees are appointed for the provincial championship, after it became abundantly clear that Leinster Council Secretary, Michael Delaney, effectively has sole charge of these appointments.

Emphasising that he wanted ‘no special treatment’ for Wexford teams other than ‘a fair crack of the whip’, Mr O’Shaughnessy outlined a whole series of recent injustices perpetrated against Wexford teams – decisions that cost them dearly.

Apart from the controversial manner of the winning Carey goal, Wexford had ‘a perfectly good goal’ disallowed, according to the Chairman.

He also instanced the recent under-21 replay clash with Offaly where the referee played six minutes of additional time in the first half when Offaly were in command, but then blew the final whistle 25 seconds early, when Wexford were pressing.

He also drew attention to last year’s minor replay with Kilkenny, where the Noresiders were awarded a goal when the ball clearly rebounded off the goalpost. They went on to win the All-Ireland title.

Nor was the problem solely confined to hurling. Mr O’Shaughnessy said that in their second round clash with Offaly in the football championship this year, Wexford enjoyed over 75 per cent of the possessoin. Despite this, they only received 17 frees, while Offaly - with 25 per cent of the possession - were awarded a total of 39 frees.

There was widespread support for the Chairman’s stance from his fellow officers and from the body of the Co. Board itself.