Munster chiefs defend delayed throw-in decision

THE GAA’s Munster Council last night insisted that the ‘correct decision’ was made in delaying the throw-in of yesterday’s Munster SHC quarter-final between Cork and Tipperary in Páirc Uí Chaoimh due to the televised coverage of the Ulster SFC tie between Donegal and Down running late.

Spokesman Jim Forbes also revealed that both the Cork and Tipperary camps had no problems with the decision taken.

“Personally I think it was the correct decision. It wasn’t the ideal situation but it was spur of the moment. Initially at about quarter past three, we were informed that there was some delay in the first-half of the Ulster football match with added on time.

“We knew then the throw-in of our game would be five past four, so I communicated that to the managers and chairmen of both counties.

“Subsequently we were informed that the Ulster match had gone to extra-time and that the throw-in would be ten past four.

“That’s expected for you to do. You have to take into account RTÉ covering both games and in fairness to people watching television you can’t turn off a game that’s on and go to another.

“In fairness to both teams, they accepted it, no problem.

“The Cork team were going on to the field when I approached them about the delay and they just decided to keep going with their warm-up. I went to the Tipperary dressing-room and they waited a few minute. But there was no problem and it’s just something you’ve to deal with.”

Cork goalkeeper Donal Óg Cusack revealed the delay did not interfere with their pre-match preparations. “It’s the Munster championship and one of the beauties of the game of hurling and the Munster championship is that things aren’t scripted,” he said.

“It was definitely something we spoke about before the game that we needed to expect the unexpected, and that was the perfect example of it.”

Meanwhile yesterday’s game may not be the last big Munster Championship clash in Páirc Uí Chaoimh this summer. A new home and away arrangement between Cork and Waterford means that if the counties were to meet in a provincial hurling final, it would be in Cork.