McEvoy: Penalty a bit dubious

DUBLIN boss John McEvoy could not mask his disappointment in the aftermath of Saturday’s decider.

After a campaign where they had moved impressively through Leinster and thumped Antrim in the All-Ireland semi-final, Dublin’s title ambitions crashed to a halt in Semple Stadium.

“It is very disappointing,” he said.

“We felt going into the game that we had a great chance. Our preparations had been very good and we felt we had all the bases covered. But on the day it did not happen for us. A penalty decision and a few things like that went against us. But those are the breaks and they make the difference in big games like, particularly in the first half.”

That penalty decision in the 11th minute irked the Dublin players and it was a huge boost to Galway when Tadhg Haran slammed the ball to the net. The two goals they shipped before half-time also proved wounding for Dublin.

“I just felt the penalty looked a bit dubious,” admitted McEvoy.

“I don’t want to go on about refereeing decisions because that is not the way we go about our business in Dublin. Certainly a few went against us, but that is the way it goes. That’s for others to judge. It was the phase before half-time that hurt us.

“We made changes at half-time and we got back into the game but you have to give credit to Galway too, they showed immense physicality, particularly in their full-back line and half-back line. I am immensely proud of the lads and the way they have conducted themselves all year. It just did not happen today.”