The performance of referee Fergal Smyth had rival managers Andy McEntee and Luke Dempsey scratching their heads after yesterday's Leinster club SFC semi-final between Ballyboden St. Enda's and St. Loman's.
The whistle-happy Offaly match official awarded 51 frees, brandished nine yellow cards and one red to Loman's Ken Casey in a game which both managers insisted was anything but dirty.
"It couldn't have been a dirty game, it was like a game of basketball," Ballyboden boss McEntee said.
"You put a hand on a fella and it's a free - that's disappointing."
Loman's manager Dempsey complained after his side's five-point defeat: "Some very, very poor decisions just widened that gap.
"It asks an awful lot about the appointment of referees to these important Leinster club matches, when you see the crowd, both mentors on the sideline, so frustrated by decisions ... and that's not to say that the referee caused us to lose.
"He was the centre of attention there today, but I don't blame the referee as much as those who appointed him."
McEntee was just happy to come away from Mullingar with a win.
"You come down here and you're just looking to win the game and get into a Leinster final, and naturally everybody's delighted that we've done just that," the Meath man continued.
"The omens weren't good as we lost to Westmeath opposition (Garrycastle) before in this competition. There was nothing spectacular about the way we played, but we just worked hard."
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