I can't believe some of the excuses being made for the ref's performance. Sure, all refs makes mistakes and they are only human etc. but the fact is that this guy made a series of absolute blunders, all of which favoured Kerry. If he had not given the two frees for nothing near the end of normal time, Kerry would have ben beaten. They also got away with at least two short kickouts that clearly did not pass the 21 yard line & their centre back got a free when he barged head first into an opponent right in front of the ref. Aidan O'Shea was taken out of it with a vicious late hit after off-loading to O'Connor for one of the goals in full view of the ref and umpires but nothing was done about it. He lay prostrate on the ground for about 2 minutes afterwards and none of the analysts even mentioned the hit. In extra-time, O'Shea was within scoring range when he was stopped with a frontal charge and no free was given. The treatment meted out to O'Shea throughout the game was cynical and thuggish - if it had been Tyrone or Armagh dishing it out there would have been a massive outcry - but because it was Kerry, the ref and the tv pundits all turn a blind eye. This game has left a very bad taste - it is a hollow victory for Kerry as far as I am concerned.

Gaillimh_Abu (Galway) - Posts: 996 - 31/08/2014 15:42:22    1645206

The kick outs don't have to go outside 20m line. Once all players are outside of 20m line when it is kicked and the ball travels 13m they are quite entitled to go in for the ball. Don't criticise referees till you know the rules. Most of the people that come on here to criticise referees wouldn't know a rule if it hit them in the face!

Monopoly (Wicklow) - Posts: 199 - 31/08/2014 15:47:27    1645208

Joe McQuillan excelled himself today. He has had many a bad day but I havent heard him mentioned at all this evening, which must be a great sign. Did he get any calls wrong at all?

BIG SACKS (Tyrone) - Posts: 1681 - 31/08/2014 18:52:21    1645432

One call wrong was the line ball he awarded to Dublin when a Dublin player clearly kicked the ball over the line.

lilywhite1 (Kildare) - Posts: 2991 - 31/08/2014 19:04:54    1645460

Ref not at fault for us losing, simply not good enough.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 7907 - 31/08/2014 19:09:59    1645468

Lads having reffed games even at under age level it is all about what the ref can see and not see in a split second. I can only imagine the bodies flying around in yesterdays game and how in an instant you have to make a call.
We get multiple replays on TV to see what happened and at time have difficulty deciding what way a free should go, the ref gets one view from one angle and can only call what he sees.

The soft frees that kerry got - I could not see what happened with Donaghy on TV so cannot comment.
The Keane one in extra time - the replay on sky showed the defender using his leg as well as arm - perhaps this is what the ref saw and blew for it.

Its a job that no-one gets any real thanks for - so before condemning a ref - ref a few games and experience it.

MitchelsonTour (Kerry) - Posts: 25 - 31/08/2014 20:38:51    1645559

anybody at the match could see that the ref was poor both ways and donaghy often did not give frees he should have got as people were hanging out of him all day..cant question the heart and character of this mayo team..gave it everything despite being beaten at midfield..ultimately not good enough

fabio8 (USA) - Posts: 2182 - 31/08/2014 20:43:42    1645561

For JOD's second penalty he went to kick the ball first time along the ground but cafferkey put in a sliding tackle to stop him from shooting. Any person who has played football or has a slight interest would know that YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SLIDE TACKLE. Read the rules before posting ignorant and uneducated comments and stop listening to Tommy Carr trying to commentate on a game!

kerryboyo (Kerry) - Posts: 1 - 31/08/2014 21:04:01    1645595

Think a lot of peoples hatred of Kerry is masking what actually happened in the game...referee gave both sides some soft frees but it balanced out ...mayo had 2 games to beat Kerry but weren't able to pull it off.... move on Kerry v Donegal final..

hurler32 (Limerick) - Posts: 867 - 31/08/2014 21:34:37    1645637

A lot out there who despise Kerry, ref did not beat Mayo, he had a poor game, gave soft frees to both sides and ignored ones that should have been awarded, best team won and good luck to Kerry in final.

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2151 - 31/08/2014 21:41:37    1645639

hurler32
County: Limerick
Posts: 548

1645637
Think a lot of peoples hatred of Kerry is masking what actually happened in the game...referee gave both sides some soft frees but it balanced out ...mayo had 2 games to beat Kerry but weren't able to pull it off.... move on Kerry v Donegal final..

+1, absolutely sickening the bile Kerry have to put up with here. Jealousy is an awful thing.

Treaty_Exile (Limerick) - Posts: 386 - 31/08/2014 21:43:25    1645643

In the rules of football, under aggressive fouls, there is absolutely nothing that prevents a player sliding in to win a ball if the other player is trying to kick it off the ground, provided he does not strike the opponent's hand, arm, foot or leg. Rule 5.13 states it's a foul "to prevent or attempt to prevent an opponent from lifting or kicking the ball off the ground by striking an opponent's hand, arm, foot or leg with the boot." Cafferky did none of the above, merely kicked the ball away before O'Donoghue kicked it. That is not a foul, although I don't blame Reilly for thinking Cafferky might have tripped O'Donoghue as he was kicking it, that was my first reaction watching it in real time.

A sliding tackle would be illegal under rule 5.12 "to block or attempt to block with the boot when an opponent is kicking the ball from the hands", but as O'Donoghue was kicking from the ground, this rule didn't apply.

So, in summary, a sliding tackle is not an automatic foul, it's entirely dependent on the circumstances in which it's executed.

ballydalane (Kilkenny) - Posts: 1246 - 31/08/2014 21:48:35    1645650

Referee's performance was baffling to say the least. Two free's Kerry got in extra time were laughable. Kevin Keane done a fine job on Donaghy but it seemed every time Donaghy was touched he got a free. I'm not using it as an excuse as Kerry just deserved it as they finished stronger.

O'Connor deserved to be sent off but what he did was out of pure frustration and it was hard to blame really.

This one is extremely tough to take lads but we will be back

MaighEo abú

mayoaresavage (Mayo) - Posts: 313 - 31/08/2014 21:52:21    1645654

Treaty_Exile
County: Limerick
Posts: 320

1645643
hurler32
County: Limerick
Posts: 548

1645637
Think a lot of peoples hatred of Kerry is masking what actually happened in the game...referee gave both sides some soft frees but it balanced out ...mayo had 2 games to beat Kerry but weren't able to pull it off.... move on Kerry v Donegal final..

+1, absolutely sickening the bile Kerry have to put up with here. Jealousy is an awful thing.


In fairness, I don't think people have a hatred for Kerry. An envy maybe but not hatred. People are just discussing how referees decisions have an impact on the game and hopefully there could be something to aid the referee in future. Hawk Eye is used now, a few years ago, people would have said it would not be in the game but it is. A referee in watching replays on the sideline speaking to the referee through an ear piece when the on pitch referee wants to refer to him is not impossible in the future. Taking nothing away from Kerry or Mayo, I just want the game improved for both players, supporters and referees :)

Cranky360 (Mayo) - Posts: 834 - 31/08/2014 21:53:08    1645655

Firstly I would like to congratulate Kerry on their win. They had more on their bench to bring on when bodies were getting tired in ET.

There was an edge to the game as you would expect with so much at stake. The referee never was in control I thought. He should have pulled the managers aside after the early schmozzle where Enright and O Connor got booked and said anymore and someone will walk. He didnt and as the game developed you had more and more melees and afters and it came to a head at the end of extra time. The frustration both on and off the field was palpable as the game progressed. I though he got some big calls wrong and unfortunately for Mayo alot ended with handy scores for Kerry. In such a tight game that is crucial. Also Shane Enright should have been sent off for the penalty as he was already on a yellow.

Kevin Mcstay highlighted several calls that were wrong. Not all against Mayo I might add. At this level and with the effort that guys put in to get to this stage without getting any financial reward they deserve more than what they got from Cormac Reilly on Saturday evening.

It's something that the GPA need to bring to Pat McAneamey and company I feel as it is the players ultimately who are the biggest losers in this situation. Im sure nothing will happen though.

unclegerry (Mayo) - Posts: 1222 - 01/09/2014 08:58:30    1645680

ballydalane
We are ignoring the penalty award at this point as what the ref though he saw and gave the penalty for we will never know

You are correct there is nothing to prevent specifically prevent a sliding tackle in the rule
To prevent or attempt to prevent an opponent from lifting or kicking the ball off the ground by striking an opponent's hand, arm, foot or leg with the boot
To behave in any way which is dangerous to an opponent.

All of these rules must be read with the second one in mind - if you go in with a sliding tackle - is that dangerous to the opponent regardless of if you catch him - of course it is. Some referees are making up their own minds about what is dangerous and what is not (and deciding that its only dangerous if it results in injury) - after the first Kerry kickout there was a sliding tackle - one inch off and the guys ankle could be broken. Players should not have to go down on the ball with the worry that they will get kicked - an opposing player should know its dangerous and therefore a yellow card.
I think after seeing the display on Saturday we now need to specify that attempting to strike while the player is bending to pick up the ball is a yellow. Dangerous tackles need to be punished regardless of injury otherwise players will continue to do them and the injury will be inevitable.

zinny (Wexford) - Posts: 1805 - 01/09/2014 09:04:33    1645684

Both teams got some soft frees. Swings and roundabouts really. Kerry were the better team on the day. Good luck to them in final. Can't understand how people are so critical of ref. He made mistakes but remember he doesn't have benefit of multiple tv angles and action replays. Cafferkeys sliding tackle was a pen as outlined by mcstay on sunday game. Good luck to kerry and donegal

pdempsey (Mayo) - Posts: 1313 - 01/09/2014 09:40:14    1645710

I find it hilarious this week the mayo fans complaining about the referee not applying the rules to the letter of the law, whereas last week you were complaining that the ref applied the rules to the letter of the law. YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS. As I said in my earlier post, Mayo created the conditions for yesterday's performance by successfully appealing Lee Keegans red card. It did not matter who reffed yesterday, they were going to be afraid to make any big decision due to the stupidity of the CHC's decision.

Another point of referees, where was Pat Mceneaney making a statement during the week backing David Coldricks decision. It did not happen. Referees who are afraid of being hung out to dry will try and avoid controversial decisions and let the game flow and make as many easy decisions as possible. The problem for Cormac Reilly, and he might say this if he was allowed to talk to the media, is that it flowed more than he wanted it to. That's the risk . I have always said about refs, apply the rules as the rule book, ignore what ignorant supporters and members of the public say, and have the authorities back them unless the rules were not applied or mistaken identity. As for players like keegan who did not seem to know the rules when he was sent off, learn them. At least Cillian O Connor knew what he did and seemed remorseful when he was sent off.

galwaydublin (Galway) - Posts: 226 - 01/09/2014 09:45:16    1645718

This game threw up some interesting talking points that is for sure. It was a great game, and it is disappointing that the headlines seem to be more negative.

1) The advantage rule - if a guy steadies himself and gets a shot away, but it goes wide, should the play come back?
2) A sliding tackle - if nobody has control of the ball and the tackle gets good connection on the ball and not the man, should it be allowed? You could say it is dangerous, but it is no more dangerous than a lot of things that are 100% legal.
3) Are big games outside croke park not staffed well enough?

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 01/09/2014 09:50:18    1645731

The fact that the referee made mistakes is hardly earth shattering news, every referee makes mistakes in every game. This was an extremely difficult game to referee, and while I certainly do not think that Cormac O'Reilly did a particularly good job, at the end of the day it's very unfair to say he favoured one team over another as I think the calls evened themselves out.

- Yes, the Kerry corner back should have been sent off for Mayo penalty, but it could just as easily be argued that Aidan O'Shes could have gone for his elbow to James O'Donohue.
- As shown on SG last night, a Mayo player (think it was Jason Doherty) should have seen black for a hand trip on Kerry player, the same offence a Kerry player received a black card for.
- The alleged soft free that Donaghy got in first period of extra time, which Kevin Mc Stay contended took place further to the side (shock, horror, a free-taker stealing a few yards) was actually for a tug on Donaghy's jersey as he ran to the side, well before that, not caught on camers.
- A sliding tackle is not allowed in Gaelic football, every soccer loving child is taught that at an early age.
- It is somewhat of a lottery if a player catches a high ball and is surrounded by opposing players as to whether he will get a free or be penalised for over carrying. Personally I think a high catch should be rewarded and the player given the benefit of any decision but I there is zero consistency. In the game Moran for Kerry did some great fielding, got frees sometime, didnt other times. Personally thought he was fouled in build up to last play of normal time but he didnt and Mayo ultimately got the free which ended up dropping short.
- Kerry did close out play in the last few minutes of extra time by ensuring no one would get through on goals. The schmozzle was ugly but handbags stuff. If mayo had sought to close out first game, they would be in final.

I thought it was very unfair of Kevin McStay to single out referee on SG last night and argue that it was to Kerry's advantage, expect better from a "pundit".

RoyalRooney (Meath) - Posts: 50 - 01/09/2014 10:32:32    1645786