Quote from: thewobbler on March 31, 2024, 08:27:48 PMThe biggest problem with Gaelic football is the endless recycling of the ball around midfield areas.
The second biggest problem is that even when we are served up an absolute classic of a match, the majority of comments are about the refereeing.
Lane had neither a good nor a bad game today, certainly not one worthy of lengthy conjecture. He could have awarded a 13m instead of a penalty, nobody would have complained. He could have black carded Shane McGuigan, with 3 mins remaining, and you could see from McGuigan's eyes that he was expecting one. He could have went easier on Fenton but on balance he refereed that passage of play correctly, including the red card. He made a blooper for Dublin's equaliser no doubt. But balance that up with the fact that he facilitated a brilliant, brilliant game of sport.
Leave him alone.
Leave refs alone.
I'd agree with a lot of that. On a number of occasions I was calling for Derry frees which weren't given but on the replays they would've been soft frees. I also thought a yellow card would've been enough for Fenton but I can see why red was given. The last free in normal time shouldn't have been given but we can all see that from different angles which the ref doesn't have. Fantastic match, great entertainment. Who knows what the championship will bring but it's just great to see Derry winning a national trophy. We had some brilliant performances but also a few players who know they can do better so we've room to improve also.