Late in the first half of Donegal's Ulster Football Championship preliminary round game, Jamie Brennan struck a major blow to Down hopes.
Brennan, who had just come off the bench minutes earlier as a replacement for the injured Michael Murphy, took advantage of some sloppy play in the Down defence from their own kickout. He raced through on goal and smashed the ball past Down keeper Rory Burns. The goal put Donegal 1-13 to 0-7 ahead.
However, Brennan took far more than the four steps allowed.
Speaking on BBC Northern Ireland's coverage of the game, Peter Canavan said he felt it should have been a free out for Down as referee Maurice Deegan did not appear to have played advantage to Brennan.
"If he wasn't fouled, and the referee didn't have his hand up..." said Canavan.
"I don't think it is a free in. In that case, it's a free out because he's overcarried the ball.
"We counted 13 steps - you're only allowed four. Maurice Deegan has got that one wrong."
Jamie Brennan goal Donegal vs Down
Jamie Brennan finishes the ball in the back of the net for @officialdonegal v @OfficialDownGAA in the Ulster Senior Football Championship Preliminary Round #GAANOW pic.twitter.com/GA7fyoutV5
— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 27, 2021
Oisín McConville questioned Deegan's positioning for the goal before also criticisming Down's kickout strategy.
"He's 55 yards away from that incident," said McConville.
"He's just too far away from it. He's just not up with the play.
"Regardless of Maurice Deegan's involvement in that incident. That was a direct result of [Down] trying the overload. They tried, and they tried it, and they tried it. I wouldn't mind but they didn't even change sides. The restarts have been a real problem for Down, and through the National League as well."
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