Referee David Gough admits mistake awarding Galway winning free in Connacht SFC final

“I gave Galway the free and it was wrong. Mayo deserved it. That was difficult for me and it still bothers me," he said.

HOLDING HAND UP: Leading referee David Gough admits he mistakenly awarded Galway their winning free in last year’s Connacht SFC final. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Leading referee David Gough admits he mistakenly awarded Galway their winning free in last year’s Connacht SFC final.

In an honest conversation with Grainne McElwain on "Réiteoir!” to be screened on RTÉ on Thursday, the Meath match official compares the decision to wrongly penalise Conor Loftus for overcarrying with not seeing Kevin McManamon’s foul on Peter Crowley in the 2016 Dublin-Kerry All-Ireland semi-final.

Goalkeeper Connor Gleeson sent over the long-range free in Pearse Stadium last May, which ultimately sealed Galway a third consecutive Nestor Cup. Two-time All-Ireland final referee Gough reveals he has leaned on a psychologist following the error.

“I gave Galway the free and it was wrong. Mayo deserved it. That was difficult for me and it still bothers me.

“I am still talking to the psychologist about the negative mindset I have because of that foul and I’m still worried that it will happen again. That’s the second time ever it happened – 2016 and this year, 2024 – and that bothers me a lot.

“I learned after the semi-final in 2016 semi-final between Dublin and Kerry when I made a mistake, not to read the comments. It was very difficult after that.

"But after talking to the psychologist, I don’t care what people say about me. The people who are important to me are my umpires, the other referees and my family.”

The Slane man returns to the 2016 game when Diarmuid Connolly scored a crucial point for Dublin as Crowley was picking himself up off the ground from the foul by McManamon.

Gough didn’t realise a mistake had been made as he left the pitch to torrents of abuse from Kerry supporters.

“After 2016, I think it really affected my mental health. It took me a long time to come back to refereeing after that game. It was terrible walking from the pitch that day. There were programmes and bottles being thrown from the Cusack Stand.

“I was worried about going on to the pitch. I knew I had made a huge mistake and maybe people didn’t have the same confidence in my refereeing any longer and that was very difficult for me.

“When the spectators come onto the pitch, you can’t be sure you’re safe. It only takes one person to be angry with you.”

Gough, who counts his father Eugene, uncle Terry and cousin Dean among his umpires, outlines the homophobic correspondence sent to his family home.

Listing the insults, he said: “I’m not comfortable with that language, but I’ve heard it. But for my family to see those words and to read those words about me, that’s very difficult for them.”

He also speaks of being booed by Dublin supporters during the cup presentation following the county’s 2023 All-Ireland final win over Kerry.

“I heard the boos coming from Hill 16 and I saw my face on the screen and I knew something had happened or that Larry [McCarthy, then GAA president] had just said something. But I just started laughing.

“I knew at that time that I had an excellent game and that it was an excellent game too so it didn’t bother me that day, but that’s a bad image for the GAA.”

Gough opens up on failing a fitness test in January last year.

“That was the first time I ever failed that test. I knew I hadn’t done the work. I had a really good Christmas with my mother and father in Slane and I knew I hadn’t done the work.

“But at the same time when your name is in the media you feel a bit embarrassed so I had to go out every night running and I’m fine now.”

“Réiteoir!” will be televised on RTÉ1 on Thursday at 10.15pm