St. Thomas' claimed their second All-Ireland senior club hurling championship on Sunday afternoon in dramatic fashion against Kilkenny's O'Loughlin Gaels.
Galway club Thomas' spent much of the second half with 14 men after a controversial red card just after the break - but O'Loughlin Gaels had equal reason to be aggrieved after seemingly being denied a clear goal early in the first half.
The incident occurred in the seventh minute when Thomas’ full-back Fintan Burke cleared Owen Wall's shot off the line. The initial thought was it was a heroic block; however, on further inspection, the sliotar was past the line.
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O'Loughlin Gaels denied goal in All-Ireland club hurling final
O’Loughlin Gael's selector wasn't happy with the green flag not being raised but also vented frustration at Dublin referee Sean Stack's performance.
"It was a certain goal. To be fair, I don't know what was going on there. There were a couple of questionable decisions, but our players have really refocused on the game and are deservedly two points up at half-time," Skeehan said to TG4 pundit Naoise Waldron as both sides entered the dressing room at halftime.
#GAABEO
'Ní raibh aon dabht go raibh cúl a bhí ann'
Is é sin tuairim Pat Fleury ar an taobhlíne, cad a cheapann sibh sa mbaile?
🥎 @oloughlingaels v @StThomassHC
BEO/LIVE AR @TG4TV 📺#GAA @GAA_BEO pic.twitter.com/9ETrPQ1soZ— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) January 21, 2024
With the game of hurling becoming faster and more skilful every year, questions will be asked of what more the GAA can do to aid their officials instead of throwing them to the lion's den to be ridiculed by players and fans alike for every incident.
With the GAA having bigger fish to fry, it will be at the back of their list of problems to solve, but if you’re an O’Loughlin Gaels player, you will feel hard done by, especially after losing 0-18 to 0-17 in what could be an opportunity they will never have again.
In fairness to St. Thomas', they may have felt right to be aggrieved by another refereeing decision, as their corner forward James Regan was sent off for a similarly contentious incident in the opening minutes of the second half.
The winning score from St. Thomas' was one for the ages. In driving wind and rain, having played over half the game with 14 men, Éanna Burke managed to pick up the ball, juggle on his hurl, and swivel to hit a blind over-the-shoulder shot from a ridiculous sideline angle.
🎙 “Ah stop! In ainm Dé!” 🤯
Some score from Éanna Burke to win the All-Ireland Club Hurling Championship Final for St. Thomas’! pic.twitter.com/Hvo6Tg9vYP— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) January 21, 2024
Though there will be reasonable gripes from O'Loughlin Gaels for the manner of their defeat, it's hard to begrudge a winning score as good as that.
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