John Bannon: Display may yield All-Ireland final for James Owens

James Owens improved his chances of refereeing his first senior All-Ireland hurling final with an impressive handling of the Galway-Cork All-Ireland quarter-final yesterday.

The fare itself lack the usual intensity you would associate with a game of this importance. James correctly showed two yellow cards to Damien Cahalane in the eighth and 50th minutes. He also got it right with an over-carry whistle for Aidan Harte, punishing Cyril Donnellan’s 24th minute hit on Aidan Walsh and Bill Cooper’s yellow card when the Cork player’s shoulder connected with David Burke’s collarbone.

In the opening quarter-final, Johnny Ryan was right to yellow card Austin Gleeson in the 63rd minute but he was extremely fortunate to not be sent off for a second offence when he pulled down David O’Callaghan as he was moving in for a goal attempt.