GAA apologise to Kilkenny for scoreboard error in All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Tipperary

Various stakeholders in the county have been informed of the correspondence from Croke Park, which expresses regret for the mistake that impacted the conclusion of the game that Tipp won by two points.

APOLOGY: Kilkenny have received an apology from the GAA for the scoreboard error in the closing stages of their All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Tipperary earlier this month. Pic: Maurice Brosnan

Kilkenny have received an apology from the GAA for the scoreboard error in the closing stages of their All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Tipperary earlier this month.

Various stakeholders in the county have been informed of the correspondence from Croke Park, which expresses regret for the mistake that impacted the conclusion of the game that Tipperary won by two points.

Kilkenny and Tipperary were of the understanding that the latter were four points ahead after Noel McGrath’s 70th minute point attempt. The shot was waved wide but the scoreboard counted it as a point.

Following a Jordan Molloy point in the second minute of additional time, Kilkenny went in search of what they thought was a required goal to force extra-time when they were in fact only two points behind.

Kilkenny, it is understood, wrote to Croke Park seeking clarification about the matter although a replay was never in question.

The county’s officials have refused to comment publicly on the matter and Tipperary manager Liam Cahill complimented the county’s dignified stance.

“Like ourselves, if Kilkenny don’t win it on the field, they ain’t going to bring it to the boardroom, that’s for sure.”

On the evening of the game, the GAA released a statement acknowledging the error.

"The GAA can confirm that the official score at the end of the Tipperary v Kilkenny GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Semi-Final was 4-20 to 0-30.

“The GAA acknowledges there was confusion over the final score. The CCCC (Central Competitions Control Committee) is awaiting the full referee’s report in order to establish how the initial mistake occurred."

Speaking last week, the GAA’s national match officials manager Donal Smyth said the error was down to a combination of factors.

"It was a mixture of stuff. The time of the game probably didn't help. So at 69 minutes we had a Kilkenny sub, at 70 minutes the ball went wide, we had a Tipperary sub at the same time.

"We didn't notice the scoreboard had changed in relation to that (McGrath's wide). Then the difficulty is we didn't get a break in play to stop the game to check the thing.

"We've changed our processes last week and our protocols around that, so it's something we just have to work on."

In the aftermath of the game, former GAA president Nickey Brennan said his native Kilkenny as well as Tipperary were due an apology.

This past weekend, Kilkenny great Henry Shefflin spoke on The Sunday Game about how “baffling” the communication was around the controversy.

He added: "There hasn’t been much noise about it and it seems it’s just moved on”.