You are the ref with John Bannon

McGrath got vital Donnellan ‘goal’ decision correct

There’s no doubt in my mind that the All-Ireland hurling championship yesterday ended on a high note from a refereeing point of view.

Like Barry Kelly, James McGrath was under a good bit of pressure coming into this game but had an impressive performance. Listening to the radio after the game, all the talk was about the decision to blow for a free before Cyril Donnellan found the net in the 44th minute.

There were plenty of anti-referee comments being expressed from Galway supporters about McGrath’s decision but the rule is the rule, and what he did was entirely accurate.

Yes, it was the biggest talking point of the game but he had clearly blown for a foul in the lead-up to the disallowed goal.

The whistle clearly went before Donnellan struck for the goal and McGrath had a choice under rule but to award the free as there is no advantage rule that would have allowed him to facilitate Donnellan’s shot.

In these split-seconds, referees have to make big judgment calls and in this case it didn’t work in Galway’s favour. But McGrath simply couldn’t allow the play to continue after determining that Jackie Tyrrell had committed a foul.

Donnellan was later sent off after some good communication work between linesman Kelly and McGrath. Replays showed he had in fact connected with JJ Delaney and was deserving of a red card.

Iarla Tannian was fortunate not to have been sent off himself in the 19th minute for use of the hurley against Richie Power following the Kilkenny man’s goal.

Goalkeeper James Skehill picked up a yellow card in the end but Tannian was deserving of at least a yellow card.

McGrath started the game well and correctly blew up David Collins for the foul on Michael Fennelly in the third minute. In the fifth minute, he was spot-on when he punished Richie Hogan for a foul on Andy Smith. Those couple of instances set the tone for the game.

In the 13th minute, Tyrrell was rightly singled out for hitting Niall Burke’s chest with his shoulder and then Niall Donoghue deserved his yellow card for fouling Eoin Larkin in the 23rd minute.

Following my comment about throwing the hurley a few weeks ago, I have to clarify that it can be determined as a technical foul if it doesn’t constitute danger to another player. Whereas it can also come under aggressive fouls if it’s believed to cause danger to another player it merits a yellow card.

In the 31st minute, Michael Fennelly was yellow-carded for the offence.

In the 54th minute, Andy Smith picked up a yellow card for a foul on TJ Reid even though the Kilkenny player had no hurley.

Smith could have no complaints but there was no need to foul him and it just summed up Galway’s day.

In fact Alan Kelly was the only happy Galway man leaving Croke Park yesterday after having an excellent display in the All-Ireland minor final.

It was the easier of games to officiate in, much easier than the first game three weeks ago, but he performed diligently.