GAA Replays
A few minutes before the end of the Cork v Waterford Munster Final yesterday the ball was sent wide by Waterford’s Dan Shanahan. For some unknown reason the umpire gives a 65. It goes over and now (after a Ben point at the other end) there is just a goal between the teams. Waterford attack once more with only seconds left and the ball goes wide. Me and all of the other Cork Supporters go crazy. That has to be it.
However at this stage the ref looks around at the poor attendance and probably realises the Munster Council haven’t made the money they would have expected to on this match. So he decides to give Waterford a free in. Seconds later the ball is in the back of the net. And the game is over. Replay! A joke!
Looking at the analysis after the match in the Sunday game in the Greyhound Track Bar across from Semple even the RTÉ analysts can’t figure out what the free was for. But I can. It’s widely believedthat statistically there are far more plays in GAA inter-county games than there should be for a game with such varied and high scores. Referee’s must be given incentives to play for replays in big matches.
In fairness to the Munster Council the game will be on next Saturday night which is a great time for a Final to be on. It should be some craic in Thurles that night. But I won’t be there. For the first time in year’s I’m not going to the Munster Hurling Final. Maybe the first time ever as far as I can remember. I don’t appreciate being taken for a fool. And I won’t be fooled twice.
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