Confused - why because he was blowing for actual frees. The way both codes are gone no player doesn't look surprised or confused when a free is given against them, it seems to be all part of the game now - similar to soccer
The first swing was one handed from above the head and then nowhere near the ball, the second one was a Henry style swipe at the players arm as he was going out with the ball - you could even see thats what he was saying is all he did. Also he had just spoken to him to cut out the messing 3 mins previous when he threw the ball in on the 20M line. The practice of taking swipe at lads arms and hands as they go past is all too plentiful - perhaps this means there is a crackdown on this type of activity who knows - nobody is playing the ball - they are playing the arm or hand. Looking over his decisions again he played advantage where it was right to do so and got all the major calls right.
On the first red card, in fairness to the ref he was very close to the incident & I don't think the cameras really caught the one-handed pull from behind on the Dublin player's arm - no attempt to play the ball. Perhaps a yellow would've sufficed but I thought the ref was fairly consistent. Sure, he got a few things wrong but which of us wouldn't?
In the second half, Kilkenny's midfield & forwards were nowhere to be seen. Richie Hogan didn't get one ball & Padraig Walsh got exactly one ball which he hit wide. When they lost Lyng the game was always going to lose all shape so I wouldn't be too concerned about the comeback at the end if I was a Dub.
What is it with Dublin's need to almost pursue gratitude from the rest of the country when a big result goes their way on the hurling field?
It actually sickens me. We are at a stage where Dublin have well and truly arrived at intercounty level, nobody denies the fact that Dublin are a high quality outfit, but yet many Dubs see every good result as a F you to the rest of us.
Ye'd swear the rest of us look down on ye as the whipping boys, we certainly dont.
There's 3 types of Dublin fan in my view in regards the hurling....1) those of us who have always supported the team going back many many years when we were a division 2 side. We're loving our recent improvements and love watching us beat the great counties but we also know to take each game on merit. While delighted with Sunday we also know there was a lot wrong and we tend not to be in people's faces when we win.....2) the fans who were also there in the dark days and now when things go well they want to shout about it, right or wrong it's an argument that both sides would have valid points on.......finally 3) those who only in very recent times have took an interest in hurling indeed some wouldn't play the game or watch there club but are now "big" Dublin fans and they usually are the ones in people's faces when we do well
It's a fact of life you will get that in sport.
Looking forward to our 2 meetings this year nice little rivalry building there
Crossfield, i think there is more debate about the Kilkenny match and red cards than anything else. Dublin Hurling fans know exactly where they are in the pecking order and are under no illusions or need their egos massaged. We have most definetly been looked down upon by so called traditional counties in the lead up to certain games in the recent past with disparaging remarks , but it is slowly changing thankfully and hopefully this year we are going in the right direction. In my opinion it still will take a while but where there is a will .