Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BELIEF GOT MY ROSSIES OVER THE LINE
FUMING Meath manager Andy Mcentee slammed ref Derek O’mahoney and suggested he was influenced by some of Donegal’s ‘stars’.
Patrick Mcbrearty’s seventh point in the 73rd minute ultimately tipped a thrilling tie Donegal’s way.
But Mcentee was disappointed that Meath were not awarded a free shortly after while the Tipperary official made a number of debatable calls on the evening.
Several of them actually went against Donegal, including the decision to rule out a 35th minute Hugh Mcfadden goal for an apparent square ball offence.
Donegal players complained about that decision and Mcentee was asked if he felt those protestations influenced the referee in the second half.
Mcentee replied: “It seems like the bigger you are, or the bigger star you are and the more influence you put on the referee, the more it works out in your favour and that’s disappointing.
“Maybe I’m wrong, maybe I’m looking at this through green coloured glasses but it certainly seemed to influence the referee.
“Certain players got away with a number of tackles I would consider a free. We seemed to be punished a bit more regularly. He was a little more concerned about where I stand on the sideline than making
Galway 0-12 Roscommon 2-15
ROSCOMMON manager Kevin Mcstay revealed there was massive belief in their dressing room prior to a shock Connacht final win over holders Galway at Pearse Stadium.
While most outside the squad gave them little hope, the players themselves had no doubts insisted the former RTE pundit. After a disastrous League campaign which saw Roscommon relegated to the second tier, Mcstay says the final day win over Cavan was a turning point.
“It was a big one. It turned a corner for us. It showed that we had a bit of pride, a bit of heart. The easiest thing was to lose by seven points in that League match,” said Mcstay whose side were boosted by goals from Cian Connolly and Brian Stack.
“The lads that went out really had a cut in a Division One game of no significance for most of the country but of huge significance to us. It was a turning point and Liam Mchale said it in the dressing room before we went out. It showed that we have a bit of guts and belief in the primrose and blue.
“Inside our group there was never any sense that we were going up here as huge underdogs. We had nothing else on our minds but Galway. There is a lot of chaos around it now because it’s one the fans didn’t see coming. We will just surf that for a day or two.”
Roscommon have a three-week break before they go to Croke Park and Mcstay says a win like this over a big county sets them up nicely for an All-ireland quarter-final.
He added: “To beat Galway was a great thing for the county.”