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Peter Sweeney

Peter Sweeney's Blog

Peter Sweeney is the Gaelic Games Correspondent with the Irish Daily Star Newspaper. He is a regular on television and radio and even though he isn't any good he still tries to play Gaelic football.

  • 12 Jul 2010

    Leinster Final Controversey

    WHAT could have been the best good-news story in the GAA this year quickly turned into the biggest controversy of the decade. Louth were within seconds of a fairytale first Leinster title in 53 years at Croke Park yesterday. read more

    WHAT could have been the best good-news story in the GAA this year quickly turned into the biggest controversy of the decade.

    Louth were within seconds of a fairytale first Leinster title in 53 years at Croke Park yesterday.

    But they were robbed by a goal that shouldn’t have been with what was literally the last throw of the dice from Meath.

    Joe Sheridan, one of the most talented forwards in the game, placed the ball over the line in his desperation to rescue a seemingly lost situation.

    Referee Martin Sludden – and more importantly, his umpires who were right on the scene – allowed the ‘goal’ to stand and the Royals were crowned champions.

    What happened after the final whistle was completely unacceptable with Sludden jostled and hit by outraged Louth fans.

    He was left to fend for himself for far too long by gardai and stewards and there were very real fears that he was going to get seriously roughed up before he got off the field.

    A steward was knocked to the ground with a bottle thrown from the crowd amid scenes that do the GAA no good.

    In fact, it’s the worst exposure the Association has had since 2001 when delegates missed the vote on opening Croke Park to soccer and rugby, thus keeping the gates closed for another few years.

    Three things have to happen and they must happen quickly for the GAA to regain its moral standing.

    The first is that a replay has to be ordered because it is hard to think of a worse call deciding such an important sporting occasion in Ireland. Thierry Henry would have blushed.

    Secondly the GAA have to finally embrace video technology when it comes to controversial scores.

    Had Sludden, or a Television Match Official as in rugby, had the chance to watch a replay straight after the incident there’s a high likelihood that a free out would have been awarded and that Louth would have been bringing the Delaney Cup back across the Boyne Bridge in triumph.

    Thirdly, those who ran onto the pitch and physically confronted the referee have to be identified, prosecuted and banned from all GAA activity for life.

    A strong message must be sent out that there is no place in sport or wider society for violence.

    Unfortunately, the third of these is the only one likely to be acted upon.

    The power to offer a replay is entirely in Meath’s hands and the sounds coming out of the Royal County on the Sunday night weren’t very conciliatory.

    As for video technology, the GAA are no closer than FIFA to embracing the future.

Home Away Date Time Venue
Mayo Dublin 11.02.2012 12:00  
Cavan Longford 11.02.2012 12:00  
Kerry Armagh 11.02.2012 12:00  
Waterford Kilkenny 11.02.2012 12:00  

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Home Score Away Score Date Venue
Clare 1-17 Waterford 0-12 05.02  
Kilkenny 1-01 Wicklow 3-25 05.02  
Leitrim 0-09 Limerick 1-09 05.02  
Armagh 0-10 Cork 1-07 05.02  

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