Mullane not in favour of technology

JOHN MULLANE is not in favour of the introduction of video technology to verify scores in hurling and football — and not just because if it might have cost him money had it been in operation on Sunday.

The Waterford star had a wager on Alan McCrabbe to score more than 1.5 points and because he finished with three, the Dubliner’s blatant wide that was signalled as a score would not have made any difference to him collecting.

Much more importantly, even by Mullane’s own admission, is the fact that Peadar Carton’s 70th minute goal ensured a four-point differential at the end.

Even if such a poor decision had caused an injustice for Offaly though, Mullane would not be backing calls for Hawk-Eye to be used in Gaelic games.

He acknowledges that umpires and referees have previous in this regard. The Leinster football final between Meath and Louth last year. The Kildare v Down All-Ireland semi-final. The Cork v Waterford Munster hurling final. Not even the thought of Ben O’Connor being awarded a point that might have denied the Déise the provincial title is enough to sway him.

“(McCrabbe’s shot) clearly wasn’t a point and thankfully, at the end of the 70 minutes there wasn’t just a point in it at the end of the game and we weren’t looking back on the score that wasn’t,” said Mullane.

“Outside of that, I wouldn’t be in favour of it coming in. We get it once every so often. I know after the football last year with Louth and that, there were big calls for it but for me, I just wouldn’t be in favour of it. There may be too much stop-starting and I think it might take a bit away from the game. We should leave well enough alone.”

Mullane was taken with the efforts of both Tipperary and Dublin on Sunday, with the well-being of the All-Ireland champions an ominous sign.

“I was very impressed with Tipperary for this time of year. They did what they had to do. Dublin were always going to have the hangover of (winning) the league, they were always going to have that pressure. They can kick on from there. As the summer goes on, they’re only going to get better.”