Dublin boss Ger Brennan calls for introduction of video technology after contentious semi-final calls
Dominique Farrell
RTÉ Sport journalist
Dublin manager Ger Brennan has called for the introduction of more video technology in the GAA after a number of key decisions went against his side in their 2-18 to 0-20 All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Kerry at Croke Park.
The Kingdom will now go on to face Mayo in the final on 26 July, but Ger Brennan felt that his side had suffered in an entertaining contest dominated by three key decisions that all fell in favour of the Kingdom.
The first of those was Brendan Cawley awarding Kerry a third-minute penalty after Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne was adjudged to have fouled Joe O’Connor. David Clifford’s penalty was well saved by Evan Comerford, but the Fossa man rifled home the rebound.
Then, with Dublin three points up early in the second half, Seán O’Brien flicked home Kerry’s second goal when replays appeared to show a square ball offence.
Lastly, Dublin felt that Ross McGarry’s palmed effort - that would have reduced the deficit to two points with 12 minutes remaining - had crossed the line.
"Application of rules and our shooting boots, they're the two key areas (where) we fell short," Ger Brennan said afterwards.
"I suppose in the first one, to be fair to inter-county officials, the game is so fast and certainly with Gaelic games and the new rules, it's up and down. So it's challenging for matchday officials.
"I feel very strongly watching both sets of players today and other intercounty players, even hurling as well watching some of the games, that video assisted technology has to come into play for key decisions because there were obviously three key decisions that didn't go our way today.
"If the officials had an opportunity to have just a quick look, take 30 seconds out, stop the clock, those decisions would have gone a different direction.
"Credit to Kerry, congratulations to them on their shooting. They just were a bit more accurate today.
"We'd had the guts of 10 more shots than Kerry today, (they) just didn't go over or go in. Kerry took their opportunities.
"We may have finished around 55% shot-to-score ratio, they were up in the mid- to high-60s. We had enough opportunities as well, despite some of the decisions that didn't go our way."
For Ger Brennan, only the penalty decision merits debate, O’Brien’s goal and McGarry’s non-goal are cut and dry matters for the Dublin manager.
He said:
"We teach our players and coach them how to tackle as the second man coming in, have your hands down on your side.
"Obviously Alex Gavin was putting a bit of heat on Joe O'Connor and forced Joe to turn into Peadar, and Peadar has his hands down by his side and Peadar takes the contact on the chest and then the penalty, so that was a poor decision.
"Then you have a look at the second goal and it was a square ball for Seán O'Brien. It's not my opinion, you can certainly chat about the penalty one alright, you can debate that, but certainly the second one was a square ball. It's not my opinion, that's just a fact.
"Well done to Shane Murphy, he had a fine game, two great saves, but having had a chance to look back at the video footage there, it was a goal for us as well. The referees need assistance because so much is happening."
While calls for further video technology on top of HawkEye may be met with some scepticism, he said that even the scoring technology had its detractors and is now widely accepted as a success – even given the odd malfunction.
"We introduced HawkEye a number of years ago, there was a debate around the consistency of how it would be applied across the grounds.
"Obviously three grounds have it now [Croke Park, Semple Stadium and the Gaelic Grounds] and everyone gets on with it, even though the same competitions might be played in grounds with no assistance that way.
"So why do we not have referee assisted technology? I think it’s something that needs to change for next year. I think referees deserve it, I think players deserve it, because everyone is putting so much into it.
"All these three decisions, luck would have been taken out of it."
RTÉ News.
Flor Lynch
Ah well. For once, Croke Park home advantage didn't work out for Dublin's benefit: hard luck!
Now it's up to the Might [Mighty] Men of Mayo!! Seven All-Ireland Final losses in the last 20 years and counting...
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