All-Ireland Series Sam Maguire 2026

[Cunny Funt]

That Dublin v Kerry game today wasn't at the standard in quality and entertainment of previous championship meetings such as 2022 semi-final,drawn final in 2019, 2016 semi-final and 2013 All-Ireland semi-final.

Nearly always talking points in Dublin v Kerry matches but was far too many today.  How Cawley and his team of officials continues to get so many high profile games is a mystery.

Celebration police are out in force for what David Clifford did after scoring the games final point. Con O'Callaghan not scoring from play a big surprise and it wasn't like Kerry were great defensively matter of fact if they give up that amount of chances to Kobe McDonald,Ryan O'Donoghue and Darragh Beirne they will be more clinical.

[twohands!!!]

Showing goalline clearance again, looks over but the camera on the bck stanchion and not in line. so is the rule partially over or all over?

3.1

A goal is scored when the ball is played over the goal-line between the posts and under the crossbar by either team.

I read that as fully over but who knows.

I have yet to see an angle that proves it conclusively one way or another. In those circumstances I think it's hard to criticise the officials whatever decision they give.

Pretty sure I saw/heard before that the ball has to be fully over the line for it to be a legitimate goal.

The rule on square ball is also a very tough one for the officials, especially when it's a from play situation compared to from a dead ball situation. The natural instinct when the ball is in play is for an umpire to concentrate on following the flight of the ball especially in a situation where it looks like a player is shooting for a point. It's one thing to call a square ball accurately from a video or even a still picture but it's a far harder task to do in real time especially when you're not expecting it (like in the case of a shot at the posts dropping short)

I wonder if there would be merit in the rules committee looking at trialing possible changes or alternatives to this especially in play given it seems to be a rule that is missed by officials with a fair degree of regularity. The other option is the VAR route but I really don't think there is all that much in the way of appetite for that. 

[weareros]

There's a still photo buff Egan has on Facebook.

Even on that you can see the full circumference has not crossed the line although the camera angle is not straight either. Still inconclusive. On the others, it was a square ball. Cawley missed a obvious square ball in our league game with Kerry too. Penalty would be a free if it happened out the field for a poorly executed shoulder. On that basis it's a penalty, but a soft one. 3 point swing, definitely not 9.

[Armagh18]

There's a still photo buff Egan has on Facebook.

Looks fairly clear cut.

[twohands!!!]

Con O'Callaghan not scoring from play a big surprise and it wasn't like Kerry were great defensively matter of fact if they give up that amount of chances to Kobe McDonald,Ryan O'Donoghue and Darragh Beirne they will be more clinical.

I'd imagine Foley is a shoe-in for the All-Star full-back position unless he has an absolute disaster of a final. He's probably got a bit of an unfair advantage in the All-Star race in that he doesn't have to play against Clifford in any championship game. Agree about the number of chances today but it would be just like Kerry to tighten up on that significantly in the final.

[gallsman]

Ger Brennan

"The referees need assistance because there's so much happening"

He thinks the referee got the three big calls wrong

The ref got one badly wrong, the umpires got one badly wrong. The goal line one you could forgive since we have a slow motion replay and can't say for sure.

You are in minority of people in this discussion who think the penalty was the wrong call. One eejit even tried to suggest O'Connor was charging as POCB ran into and clattered him straight on. That is not "badly wrong".

[gallsman]

The second goal came from two men in illegal positions just saying "f**k it, let's make things tough for their keeper and see what happens".

The second man was clearly not inside the square when the ball was kicked.

[cavanmaniac]

Even with all the goal calls going against them, the Dubs still engineered enough scoring chances to prosper but butchered way too many of them.

A few crumbs of encouragement for Mayo in the way Kerry were contained for spells of the match, but although they summoned a performance I didn't see coming against a Louth team with stage fright, I fear Mayo have once again peaked for their semifinal. Here's hoping we get a final contest worthy of the occasion. Would be some craic if every bit of bad luck they've had in prior 11 showpieces was rebalanced with a stupendously outrageous day out to finally claim Sam.

[David McKeown]

Showing goalline clearance again, looks over but the camera on the bck stanchion and not in line. so is the rule partially over or all over?

3.1

A goal is scored when the ball is played over the goal-line between the posts and under the crossbar by either team.

I read that as fully over but who knows.

I have yet to see an angle that proves it conclusively one way or another. In those circumstances I think it's hard to criticise the officials whatever decision they give.

Pretty sure I saw/heard before that the ball has to be fully over the line for it to be a legitimate goal.

The rule on square ball is also a very tough one for the officials, especially when it's a from play situation compared to from a dead ball situation. The natural instinct when the ball is in play is for an umpire to concentrate on following the flight of the ball especially in a situation where it looks like a player is shooting for a point. It's one thing to call a square ball accurately from a video or even a still picture but it's a far harder task to do in real time especially when you're not expecting it (like in the case of a shot at the posts dropping short)

I wonder if there would be merit in the rules committee looking at trialing possible changes or alternatives to this especially in play given it seems to be a rule that is missed by officials with a fair degree of regularity. The other option is the VAR route but I really don't think there is all that much in the way of appetite for that. 

Yeah I have always worked on the understanding it's whole ball over whole line

[tyroneStatto]

Are the umpires in these big games still the referees family and friends?

Yeah. As much use as tits on a bull.

Well that nonsense needs to end. It hasn't been a good couple of weeks for officials especially umpires.

[David McKeown]

Is this season following last season? An absolute classic up til the semi finals then it completely petered out. That wasnt a great game added to yesterday's cake wake...good chance final could be a blowout as well.

Anyway, after the Tyrone v Kerry game and now this game I feel strongly that there should be a review style system in place for all games in Croke park from QF onwards. My thoughts are:

- each team gets 3 reviews, captain or management can call for them.
- basically the big screens could be used by the ref for definite calls on huge decisions.
- wouldn't take long to fire up the required incident on big screen for 2 or 3 run throughs for the ref to make his decision.
- could have reviewed Kerry's over the line goal and Dubs wrong decision very quickly.
- the Tyrone non award of 45 would have taken a review of no more than 10 seconds.

It wouldn't be VAR and only applied from QFs onwards as the technology is there and replays are usually shown after the ref makes his call anyway.

There's so much riding on the game and it's moving so fast that it's nearly impossible for refs to see everything. Plus to have mainly aul boys who are friends of the refs is pretty ridiculous in this day and age.

Qfs onwards should also have experienced refs on the posts as well.

Don't think that would solve anything. In fact probably cause more rows. Of those three you've listed I don't think you'd get unanimous agreement on any of them other than maybe the square ball.

[gallsman]

There's a still photo buff Egan has on Facebook.

Shame on you for giving this buck eejit any attention whatsoever!

"Digital Creator" lolololol.

A still image proves nothing unless it conclusively shows something, which it does not.

I vividly remember the chorus on the BBC when Japan beat Germany in the WC where they wanted a fair goal ruled out for a ball that didn't go wide. The image showed  grass between the ball and the line, so it must have gone wide! Then they showed the overhead image, where it was clear the curve of the ball was above the line, so it wasn't wide.

[Armagh18]

Even with all the goal calls going against them, the Dubs still engineered enough scoring chances to prosper but butchered way too many of them.

A few crumbs of encouragement for Mayo in the way Kerry were contained for spells of the match, but although they summoned a performance I didn't see coming against a Louth team with stage fright, I fear Mayo have once again peaked for their semifinal. Here's hoping we get a final contest worthy of the occasion. Would be some craic if every bit of bad luck they've had in prior 11 showpieces was rebalanced with a stupendously outrageous day out to finally claim Sam.

I'd love Ryan O'Donoghue to get away with throwing the ball into the net after taking 14 steps and Kobe to score a goal deflected off Foleys arse!

[gallsman]

There's a still photo buff Egan has on Facebook.

Looks fairly clear cut.

Only to stupid c***ts who don't understand the meaning of "clear cut".

Another poster reckons you can infer the ball is over the line. Honestly like.

[shantygael]

The three big calls all went Kerrys way. Penalty, square ball and a goal not given when over the line.

Second that big time