It was not a free, insists Mac Lochlainn

ANDRIÚ MAC LOCHLAINN last night insisted he did not foul Bernard Brogan for the free that provided the footballer of the year with the kick to win yesterday’s Leinster semi-final.

The defender, who came on as a first-half substitute, was deemed to have infringed when marking Brogan in injury-time.

But Mac Lochlainn is adamant he did nothing wrong.

“You could see on TV a lot better than I could see there,” he maintained.

“It wasn’t a free. I was sure in my mind that it wasn’t a free.

“The game even shouldn’t come down to a decision like that. It’s unnecessary and it’s a cruel way to end a game of football.

“I know in my mind that I didn’t foul him but that’s football. I would have looked forward to two weeks’ time and the chance of (a Leinster) but our ultimate goal is still there.

“If we play well and take it game by game. Laois is what we’re looking forward to now.”

After losing last year’s All-Ireland semi-final to Down when Benny Coulter had clearly been in the square for his goal, Kildare might have reason to believe they’ve been hard done by.

But Mac Lochlainn said: “It’s very frustrating with ourselves that we’re not allowing ourselves to be further ahead. If we took matters into our own hands these things wouldn’t happen to us.”

Even though Kildare were four points behind with two minutes of normal time to go before Eamonn Callaghan struck 1-1, the Ellistown man was full sure Kildare were going to win.

“I thought all through the game that we were going to get there. I never believed that they were going to come out on top. I was full sure we were always going to come back and win in the end.”