Joyce 'can see why' Hurson appointed All-Ireland final referee, Kelly set to feature

Referee Sean Hurson signals a jersey was pulled during All-Ireland SHC quarter-final between Dublin and Galway. Picture: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Galway senior football manager Pádraic Joyce “can see why” Seán Hurson was appointed Sunday week’s All-Ireland football final against Armagh despite his frustrations at a late free against John Daly in the 2022 decider.

Following the All-Ireland defeat to Kerry, Joyce took issue with Hurson’s decision to award a free against Daly when the sides were level in the closing stages of normal time. Kerry went onto win by four points.

The Tyrone referee has officiated several Galway games since then including the Sam Maguire series group stage fixture against Armagh last month.

At the All-Ireland final press event, Joyce was asked if he was surprised by Thursday’s announcement.

“I wouldn’t say surprised,” he said. “But it is just that, I always say you can control everything bar the weather and the referee. I haven’t seen a free given since that for that type of a free since. I don’t know, I don’t think it cost us the game two years ago. I have said that before.

“I think it just changed the momentum for us in that particular game. Look, we have had Seán referee matches for us, I think this is his third or fourth game this year. He is a top, top referee. I can see why he got the final.” 

Galway secured their spot in the showpiece thanks to a two-point victory Donegal. They did so without their captain Seán Kelly, who was replaced in the starting team by Cein D’Arcy before throw-in.

The Connacht champions were also without Cian Hernon for that tie. A substitute in the quarter-final win over Dublin, Hernon suffered a broken wrist in training before the semi-final and has been ruled for the final. 

Shane Walsh and Damien Comer were both taken off before the final whistle. However, Joyce confirmed they are both “fine.” It means that only one starter from the 2022 final is unavailable for Galway. Patrick Kelly remains sidelined with a long-term back injury.

“Seán is training away. He trained Tuesday night. Look, he probably wasn’t full ready the last day so we are hoping to get another two weeks into him and we will check him out. Hopefully, he will be available for some sort of time anyway.

“The boys are fine. The boys that came off, the nature of Shane’s injury is that he could not stay any longer on the pitch and we took him off and give him a bit of rest. He needs to put a bit of work in now for a bit of rehab for the next two weeks and if we get as much out of him again in two weeks’ time, we will be happy enough. Damien is the same.”