McAleer laments referee decisions but praises Cork

JOHN McALEER, who had stepped into the breach last May when the management resigned en bloc, was happy with everything about Monaghan’s display in yesterday’s All-Ireland final.

However, while conceding that they lost to a Cork side which was physically stronger on the day, he felt that some refereeing decisions undermined their challenge.

“We were happy enough at half time to go in three points down, but some of the decisions out there went completely against us,” he said, adding that they made a big difference to the outcome.

And, while he said he would postpone judgment on the goal they conceded at the start of the second half, he ‘imagined’ it was a square ball.

“The two umpires just looked at each other and one of them decided to put up a green flag. It was a big decisions go against you but I have to say on the day Cork were the better team overall. But I don’t think that was that difference (14 points) between us.”

In particular, he praised his team for the composure they showed in recovering from Cork’s early goal. “We were always worried about getting off to a bad start. I was delighted with the way the girls stuck in,” he said.

“We were going for goals near the end, but Cork had too much for us. This is a young and very light Monaghan team. Hopefully we can get a few more (players) in next year, if I’m still about, and have another crack at it. That would be our aim, to come back. But, I’ll have to see.

“That’s me finished for the season. I was only in temporarily.”