Stradbally not planning to make a point

GAA umpires are making the headlines again for all the wrong reasons.

Seven days after the Leinster club SHC final controversy, the footballers of Stradbally claim they were denied a first-half point in the drawn Munster football decider with Killmurry/Ibrickane.

However, unlike UCD who had a similar grievance in the loss to James Stephens, the Waterford champions are not planning to pursue the matter.

Instead they want to focus on the replay at Kilmallock on Sunday.

A club spokesman said that television footage clearly shows that Niall Curran’s 20th minute drive went inside an upright. However, despite Curran’s protestations, the umpire signalled the ball wide.

“In the context of the final score line it’s a crucially important moment in the game,” said the spokesman. “But it’s all history now.

“We are gearing ourselves up for Sunday’s replay which we are very hopeful of winning,” he said.

The Waterford champions will welcome back midfielder George Walsh from suspension following his first half dismissal in the semi-final victory over Bishopstown.

Manager Sean Ahearne believes the replay will be as tight and tense as last Sunday’s game.

“Clearly, there is very little between the sides, but I feel we will take a huge degree of confidence from our performance in that game and will be an even better team for it next time.”

However, Ahearne isn’t over-enthusiastic about the choice of venue.

“We have never played in Kilmallock and would prefer to be playing on the wide open spaces of Semple Stadium. We just don’t know why the venue has been changed, but it’s not something we will be losing any sleep over between now and Sunday.”