AISF 2010: Corcaigh vs Áth Cliath

[Hardy]

Was there ever a better illustration of how difficult a referee's job is? I thought it was one of the most obvious penalties I've ever seen, as I watched in real time. As far as I'm concerned, O'Connell charges towards him (i.e. he's not just standing his ground) and forces him backwards, at the same time wrapping his two arms around him - a perfect rugby tackle, really. I've since had the benefit of many replays at normal speed and in slow motion and have had the opportunity to consider others' interpretations and still have seen no reason to change my mind. Yet we have people, including some whose opinions I would respect, who have also seen it many times, in slow motion, who saw a range of different things, from a dive to a foul on McConnell to play on, nothing happened.

It really should make us think long and hard before criticising refereeing decisions made on the fly without the benefit of replays, slow motion, or time to consider.

[Coddler]

Yep. I don't envy the referees job at all. But you can point out the mistakes without tearing strips off of him. McConnell's second yellow was deserved but the first one was very dubious. He barely touched Kerrigan who had made a great run up the sideline before falling over in the scoring zone. There was minimal contact. Definitely not a yellow card.

[dowling]

Apart from that did you not think Cork got a couple of very soft frees near the end?

Of course Cork were playing for frees in the final stages. O Neill, O Leary and Miskella all went down easily as far as I remember. They tended  to throw themselves at the defender and then hit the floor during rather than as a result of the tackle. But could you blame them - they were five points down and as another  poster pointed out they weren't likely to score a goal or five points from play so the obvious thing to do was to play for frees - it's called the survival instinct - do whatever is needed to stay alive.
              I know it's not nice to see 'diving' becoming part of the game -but it's up to the powers that be to change the rules and start penalising deliberate dives, as they do in soccer.
                 

Unforunately the game can be quite cynical now but I thought the ref gave frees more esaily to Cork. These things happen but I'm not having a go at the ref. I haven't seen the game again yet but was there a Cork player in the ref's face at the time of the penalty?

Excellent post Hardy.
Most decisions are clearcut but some, and unfortunately some which can decide the game, aren't. Referees shouldn't be beaten up or villified over any decision even if it's a bad one.

[jas376]

Unforunately the game can be quite cynical now but I thought the ref gave frees more esaily to Cork.

    Cork scored  1-7 from frees
    Dublin scored 0-2 from frees (I think!)

  That say's it all really and proves your point.

  However,  Dublin used a high risk strategy in this game  - by playing the 'blanket defence' tactic Dublin invited the Cork players into Cork's own scoring zone and they weren't careful enough with their disciplne and so they conceded silly frees.

  So, a warning to all teams:  if you want to play blanket defence be  careful with regard to discipline.



 


     

[Billys Boots]

Yet we have people, including some whose opinions I would respect, who have also seen it many times, in slow motion, who saw a range of different things, from a dive to a foul on McConnell to play on, nothing happened.

To me, when we can have such a range of opinions on this incident, from seasoned observers it suggests (to me) two rationales: (1) people see what they want to see, or (2) the game is becoming objectively ungovernable. 

[Any craic]

The Brogans were back in action last night in the Dublin SFC tho it seems unfair to have to play so soon after Sunday. Bernard doesn't look anything like he did, understandably enough, Alan was ok, Jayo hits a great pass or two, and Anthony Moyles of all people scored the vital score near the end of extra-time for Plunketts with the outside of his boot. Offaly's John Coughlan, Cavan's Nestie Smith and Louth's Darren Clarke are all on show here on this match report video as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-f7n5xkR-Q//

[jas376]

The Brogans were back in action last night in the Dublin SFC tho it seems unfair to have to play so soon after Sunday. Bernard doesn't look anything like he did, understandably enough, Alan was ok,


  Most of the Cork players were also out on Wednesday night playing championship football with their clubs  - very hard on them, in my opinion so soon after Sunday.. Luckily, they all came through uninjured. There are no more senior club games now until after the AI final. However, E. Cadogan is  playing a senior hurling club championship game next week.

[Coddler]

Watched it again last night and it didn't get any easier 2nd time around. I noticed one thing which I don't think has been mentioned. Some of Dublin's tackling was rash all right but the worst tackle of the day has gone unremarked.
Rory O Carroll travelling out of defence, handpassed the ball over Pearse O Neill's head and ran forward. O Neill halted O Carrolls's run with an elbow/forearm smash to the face, decking Rory and falling back himself.
Deegan was no more than 20ft from the incident and saw it perfectly but took no action. O Neill was on a yellow from the first half so would definitely have walked if the Ref was prepared to do his job and issue a yellow at the minimum (though the tackle probably warranted a straight red). O Carroll is too much of a warrior for his/Dublin's own good and jumped staright back up after the belt and so that probably eased Deegan's decision.
The incident happened in the 59th minute if anyone is interested in taking a look.
The Dubs were 3 points up at the time and with Cork down to 14 men they would have closed this game out I believe.

[orangeman]

Re run of the match on TG4 now - what a day, what a game served up by 2 very committed sides.

Generally speaking it wasn't easy getting a free that day.