Brian Gavin: Aaron Gillane can count his lucky stars after escaping dismissal

Aaron Gillane gets away from Tipperary’s Barry Heffernan in yesterday’s Munster SHC final. However, the Limerick star was lucky to stay on the pitch after a clash with Cathal Barrett. Picture: Daire Brennan/Sportsfile

It was a weekend of fine margins from a refereeing perspective. You might say “what’s new” but it was a hurling provincial final weekend and at least one decision that went the way of Limerick proved to be telling.

I’m talking of course about Paud O’Dwyer’s decision not to send off Aaron Gillane for hitting out at Cathal Barrett at the start of the second half in Cork. Gillane was one lucky chap and given Paud was closer to the incident than linesman Cathal McAllister, it was strange that he consulted his assistant.