GAA Roundup: Hurling fiasco

By Mark Jones

Ger Loughnane called it the day of the short whistle. If Clare haven’t been embroiled in enough controversy this summer, at least this fiasco of an All Ireland hurling semi-final replay wasn’t of their making. Last Saturday’s Croke Park consternation was caused by one man: referee Jimmy Cooney.

For reasons best known to himself, Cooney called a halt to the proceedings with more than two minutes of normal time remaining. Add in an estimated two more minutes of injury time and Offaly were deprived of at least four minutes in which they could have clawed back a three point deficit.

Hands were shaken and jerseys exchanged, but in the aftermath of the premature whistle, Offaly’s incredulity was only matched by Clare’s resignation. The Clare players knew that Cooney’s error had more than likely cost them a place in the final.

The GAA regulations are clear. The relevant rule states that should players, officials or supporters be found responsible for terminating a match, then the team in question is liable to disqualification. But critically, the rule also states that if a match is "prematurely ended for any other reason, it shall be refixed for the full period."

So, while angry Offaly supporters were staging a sit-in on the hallowed Croke Park turf — a sit-in that caused the cancellation of the All Ireland Under 21 B hurling final between Kerry and Kildare — the administrative wheels of the GAA were already in motion.

In his report, referee Cooney admitted he had "erred in terminating the game" and he asked not to be considered as an official if the semi-final was to be replayed. In all probability, Cooney made a mistake in thinking each half was 30 minutes long, as is the case for National League games, while Championship matches are over 70 minutes.

Amid calls for a more sophisticated method of time-keeping, the GAA quickly announced a second replay for Saturday in Thurles with Dickie Murphy of Wexford in charge. Association President Joe McDonagh also confirmed that ticket prices for the game would be reduced and that half the gate receipts would go into a fund for victims of the Omagh bombing.

"It was a basic human error," said Clare Manager Ger Loughnane, "and when I told our captain Anthony Daly that a replay was likely, his reply was: ‘Good, if we’re to win anything we should win it on merit.’"

Offaly manager, Michael Bond, was adamant that referee Cooney quickly realized he had made a mistake and said he would get the players back out for the remaining minutes. "I got to Jimmy within a minute of it ending and he was willing to continue," Bond said.

Away from the time-keeping fiasco, it proved to be another gripping encounter. Offaly deserved immense credit for the way they battled back from what looked like a hopeless situation. They were trailing by 1-12 to 0-5 eight minutes into the second-half before staging a dramatic revival in which they out-scored Clare by 2-5 to 0-4.

They had been humbled by a faster, slicker Clare outfit for the entire first-half. Alan Markham added to a fine all-round performance with a brilliantly struck goal, while the Clare half-back line of Liam Doyle, Seanie McMahon and Anthony Daly were in complete control.

Offaly got their act together in the second-half with Michael Duignan coming into his own while Johnny Dooley’s move out to midfield worked a treat. The addition of subs Joe Errity and Billy Dooley also made a big difference and for once, the Clare defense began to look vulnerable.

Billy Dooley’s goal and then a drilled penalty from Errity cut the gap and even though Clare were still snapping up a few chances through Jamesie O’Connor and Markham, Billy Dooley and Brian Whelehan responded with two points to leave just three between the teams at the premature close of play.

If Cooney’s early whistle wasn’t disastrous enough in itself, the referee was at the center of two other controversial incidents involving Offaly players. Duignan was extremely lucky not to be sent off for two dangerous challenges on David Forde. Johnny Pilkington also lost his cool when he appeared to kick out at a prone Niall Gilligan, but both players escaped with bookings.

Meanwhile, Cork took the Munster Under 21 hurling title with a comfortable 2-6 to 0-9 win over Tipperary.