No appeal for Down hurlers

Down's hurlers have turned down the chance to appeal their Christy Ring Cup final defeat to Westmeath, despite a highlighted refereeing error.

Limerick offical Dennis Richardson called a halt to the first half of Sunday's encounter at Croke Park after only 33 minutes, even though he had signalled for three minutes of injury time to be played.

That means the Down county board could legitimately claim that those five minutes, in which anything could have happened, cost them the result and a place in next year's All-Ireland series.

Instead, the Down county board are to send a letter of protest to the GAA's Central Disciplinary Committee, citing that match regulations were contravened.

The incident involving Richardson is not unparalleled. Galway referee Jimmy Cooney famously blew the final whistle in the 1998 All-Ireland SHC semi-final between Offaly and Clare with just 68 minutes played.

Offaly lost that particular tie 2-10 to 1-16, but were given a replay which they won, and the midlanders subsequently went on to lift that year's Liam McCarthy Cup.