Mann: Junior final scoreline confusion regrettable

Limerick chairman Oliver Mann has said Saturday’s junior final scoreline confusion was regrettable.

Na Piarsaigh’s celebrations at the final whistle in the Gaelic Grounds were short-lived when it was realised they had finished level with Feohanagh after an error had been made by the referee and the scoreboard operator.

On leaving the field, referee Paddy Lyons confirmed the scoreboard was correct. However, when he tallied his scores in the notebook Lyonsrealised there was an issue with the result and Mann took to the public announcement system to confirm the mistake and that “on count back” the game had actually ended as a draw, Na Piarsaigh 0-15 Feohanagh 2-9.

“It would have been better if it hadn’t happened,” admitted Mann. “There was a bit of confusion. It was a fine game of hurling and it was a credit to all of the players involved.

“When the referee checked his scores in his dressing room afterwards they did not tally with the scoreboard. He informed me on Saturday night that it was a draw. Practically, everybody accepts that it was a draw.”

A copy of the referee’s report was expected in Limerick’s GAA office yesterday. The replay can’t take place next weekend as Feohanagh are going forward as the county’s representatives in the Munster JHC when they will face Tipperary champions Skeheenarinky. Na Piarsaigh can’t enter the competition as they are the club’s second team.