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'Farcical Officiating' - Pádraic Joyce Unhappy With Cynical Dublin After League Draw

'Farcical Officiating' - Pádraic Joyce Unhappy With Cynical Dublin After League Draw
Maurice Brosnan
By Maurice Brosnan
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Galway and Dublin played out a heated draw today in Salthill as both sides looked to lay down a marker before the league final. The final score was 0-13 to 0-13, but it is the officiating in the closing exchanges as the All-Ireland champions tried to see out the game that has faced growing criticism.

Despite being behind by five points at half-time, Dublin fired back to lead going into the closing exchanges with Ciaran Kilkenny starring as he landed five points for Jim Gavin's side. A late rally saw the Dubs kick four-in-a-row before Eoghan O'Gara was sent off for an off-the-ball incident.

 

Immediately after Cormac Costello kicked a free in extra-time to give Dublin the lead, several melees broke out all over the field. Johnny Heaney did manage to later score a last-minute score to snatch the draw. However, speaking on RTE Sport, commentary former Galway footballer Padraic Joyce questioned the manner in which Dublin tried to see out the game.

Dublin did this in the football final last year against Mayo. Galway had the ball and they dived in, blocked off all the players and creating a melee. It's a bit of cuteness. Philly McMahon jumped ten yards from the ground to the top of melee, two feeted so he'll probably get the red for this. Just slowing the game down...

Ciaran Kilkenny has rugby tackled Damien Comer off the ball. Obviously, he knows Comer is Galway's only chance of getting a score. Right in front of the linesman and it is the second time he has done it in the space of two seconds. It should be a black card but look at, it is farcical officiating.

After the game, Joyce stressed that it was how this issue was governed that he had a problem with.

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The Dublin players here are coming off the pitch, a few of them arguing with the crowd, Joe McQuillan is getting a garda escort here. The referee let a lot of the game develop that he shouldn't have. The linesman officiating, (it was) a lot of off the ball stuff.

The game provoked a huge amount of debate online.

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The local commentary of Galway Bay FM were similarly frustrated.

It is systematic. They have certain players in certain pockets. That is not to say the likes of Dean Rock wouldn't get involved or a corner forward. But they literally pull the defender down to the ground and sit on them. What is a referee to do? Does he produce ten black cards?

To try and legislate to do it is very difficult. We are now talking about the Dubs but the Dubs are always in the lead in the final minutes, I'm sure other counties would do the same thing if the opportunity arises. It is a problem for the GAA. It is very very nasty and the players are clever. It's hard for the officials to adjudicate. I don't know where to go, it's just very nasty.

Both Joyce and the local commentary are, of course, leaning towards their own county but their grievance appeared to be with the officiating rather than either team. With the pair both already qualified for a league final, today's clash ensures that game is set to be a full-throttle affair.

SEE ALSO: Watch: Unbridled Joy As Carlow End 33-Year Wait For Promotion

 

 

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