Limerick appeal after Hawkeye gets it wrong

Galway  0-23   Limerick  0-20 (AET)
The Hawkeye controversy in Sunday’s All-Ireland minor hurling semi-final has taken the focus off what was a most entertaining game of hurling between winners Galway and Munster champions, Limerick.

The fact that the game required extra-time isn’t surprising, given that the teams were level on 13 occasions in normal time. They were level again three times in the extra period before Galway finished strongly, shooting the last four points to seal victory.

Whether that victory will be confirmed remains to be seen, following the decision of the Limerick County Board to appeal as a result of the Hawkeye controversy, which occurred in the opening minute.

A Barry Nash effort for the Munster champions was signalled as a point and play resumed with the puck-out by Galway from the Hill 16 end.

At this stage, referee Fergal Horgan called on Hawkeye to rule on whether Nash’s effort was a point. The ruling was a miss but subsequently Hawkeye confirmed it was a wrong decision.

A short time later, a message went out that Hawkeye was being suspended and would not operate for the remainder of the day.

In such a tight game, every score was crucial and Limerick’s decision to lodge an appeal didn’t come as a surprise.

It was point for point throughout the first half, at the end of which the sides were level at 0-8 each. That trend continued in the second period as the teams traded points. It was 0-1 each at the three quarter stage and extra time looked increasingly likely.

In the closing minutes when, it must be said, match official Horgan from Tipperary awarded a few ‘soft’ frees, notably one from 50m to Limerick in the second minute of injury time, which centre-back Ronan Lynch converted to send the game to extra time. The score after an hour’s play was 0-16 each.

At the end of the first period of extra time, Galway had edged a point ahead, 0-19 to 0-18. Limerick levelled at the start of the second period before taking the lead but they failed to score in the final six minutes.

Both sides deserve praise for some outstanding defending, with great displays from Ronan Lynch and Michael Casey for Limerick and Shane Cooney and Darragh O’Donoghue from Galway.

Credit must go to Galway manager Mattie Murphy from Gort, who has a remarkable record in charge of Galway minor teams.

A member of his current backroom team is Murphy’s fellow Gort man, John  Cummins, former All-Ireland winning goalkeeper with the Tribesmen.

As revealed in last week’s Clare Champion, Broadford hurler Aonghus O’Brien is a member of the Limerick minor backroom team.

The outcome of Limerick’s appeal over the Hawkeye controversy is awaited with interest but it is thought unlikely there will be a replay.

Waterford await the outcome of the appeal with particular interest as they secured their place in the final when they overcame Kilkenny in the first semi-final a week earlier.