McGrath’s assured display allowed final develop into a classic
A huge compliment must be paid to the officials, players and supporters.
Referee James McGrath must also be praised for his contribution. Having had time to look back over replays and going back over notes I took in real time at the game, I can say he was hardly proven wrong by his decisions.
Pa Cronin and Cian Dillon were involved in three separate incidents in the first half in the 12th minute, the 15th minute when Cronin won a free from which Anthony Nash beat 13 defenders on the line and the 18th minute when Patrick Horgan pointed a free. Television replays showed he wasn’t wrong on any of those calls.
That’s not to say fans in Croke Park didn’t take issue with his calls. In the 22nd minute, Cork fans were annoyed when a free was given against Conor Lehane for a foul on Domhnall O’Donovan.
In the 32nd minute, a free was blown against Conor Ryan and it enraged Clare supporters. In the 41st minute, Clare fans and Davy Fitzgerald were demanding a free in front of the Hogan Stand but Cork committed no definite foul in this passage of play.
In the 45th and 46th minute, McGrath correctly whistled Conor McGrath and Conor O’Sullivan for overcarrying. They took 10 steps each.
In the 50th minute, Stephen McDonnell was fortunate to get a free out when Tony Kelly was adjudged to have fouled him. It was the one clear-cut decision McGrath looked to have got wrong.
In the 67th minute, Seamus Harnedy had his togs pulled back and it took Anthony Nash one and a half minutes to take the resultant free.
The game itself was a wonderful spectacle when hurling of such quality could be decided with the bounce of a ball off a hand, hurley or goalposts.
On such margins, the direction of the Liam MacCarthy Cup was decided and McGrath played his part in ensuring it was the players who guided it.
It was a fantastic end to the inter-county hurling season.
