Should Dean Rock's point in injury time in yesterday's All Ireland football final have counted?
Not according to the Official GAA Rules and Regulations, as the Ballymun man violated Rule 4.23. The rule states that a player may not use a divot to tee up a free kick, something Rock could clearly be seen doing before he struck two frees in the opening half.
Rock - the top scorer in this year's championship - deliberately dug up the pitch to give himself a greater chance of converting the free which put Dublin four points clear at the interval. According to the section four of the Rule Book on Technical Fouls (below), had referee Conor Lane or any of his officials spotted the misdemeanor, the free could have been overturned and the game restarted with a hop ball.
Rock also created a divot for a free earlier in the half, in the 18th minute, but his effort was off target on that occasion. Both incidents can be seen in the images below.
Whether or not it would have made a difference to the final outcome we'll never know but no doubt Mayo eyes will be watching Rock closely the next time when he lines up for a free in the replay.
SEE ALSO: 16 Of The Best Images From A Drama-Filled All-Ireland Final
