Finding sense in puck-out fiasco

WE HAD another stumble at the Munster U21 Hurling Final last Wednesday night. Tipp and Clare, not for the first time, served up a thriller before a massive crowd of 12,000 people. Everything was totally sporting and the hurling was excellent.

Clare had never won a Munster U21 final. They’d waited 80 years to win a Senior All-Ireland before Loughnane, McNamara and Considine helped deliver Liam in 1995, and were then expected to disappear back beyond the Cliffs of Moher.

But Clare, inspired by the spirit of our founding father, Michael Cusack, had no notion of disappearing. They kept fighting against the odds and on Wednesday last, they were about to score the winning point in the U21 final when an overzealous umpire called the referee to an alleged puck-out infringement. The referee cancelled the free and according to rule, gave Tipp a 65. Tipp didn’t look a gift house in the mouth; they scored and won the match.