Bring in football rule

Anthony Cunningham said the advantage rule introduced to football this year must be extended to hurling.

He made the comments after James McGrath blew for a free after a foul by JJ Delaney on Jonathan Glynn in the closing stages when allowing advantage may have afforded Galway a better goal chance than Conor Cooney’s subsequent saved 20-metre free. Two years ago, Cyril Donnellan had a goal disallowed in the All-Ireland final replay against Kilkenny after McGrath had called the play back for a Galway free.

Cunningham is adamant everyone would benefit were referees allowed a window of five seconds for play to develop to see if advantage is taken.

“I’m surprised with all the talk of refereeing it would have helped the referee. I’m not in any way being down on referees, but I think the advantage rule in the All-Ireland [U21 football] semi-finals was excellent.

“I’m not one to talk about specific referees but I think the advantage rule helps the referees and helps the game. There were probably one or two chances that could have gone the other way. Look it, there is always going to be close calls and we don’t want to talk about referees but it can help referees.”

Cunningham said the call by McGrath in the final minute of normal time did a disservice to Galway.

“David Burke had a shot come off the bar — we had hard luck there. Johnny Glynn was pulled up at the finish. There are always going to be close calls but I think that one was very unfair. I think at that stage of the match where we were looking for the advantage.”

Although Cunningham felt Galway rushed their goal opportunities in the first-half and pointed to Kilkenny’s strength of experience compared to his side, he was generally pleased with some individual performances.

“You’d have to be happy with Daithí Burke. I think he had a tremendous game centre-back no more than his brother [Ronan] who had a really sound game.

“Joseph Cooney really came of age there with Walter Walsh taken off there but look they are going to have to learn there is more and they are going to have bigger days again and we are going to demand that level of performance from those guys every day we go out because they have the ability.”

Cunningham expects injured pair Iarla Tannian and Niall Healy will return to training soon. Donnellan is expected to be back in club hurling start of next month.