Hawk Eye malfunction casts shadow over Galway minors’ win

Limerick GAA chiefs were due to meet last night to consider a possible appeal for a refixture of their controversial All-Ireland minor hurling semi-final against Galway at Croke Park on Sunday.

A shadow was cast over the outcome of the game – a thrilling extra time victory for the Galway boys – when a Hawk Eye malfunction denied Limerick a genuine point in the opening minute of the match.

Centre-forward Barry Nash’s effort was adjudged on target by the umpires but, after a delay, referee Fergal Horgan called for the use of the new technology to confirm that it was a Limerick point.

Hawk Eye, the GAA’s expensive computerised system to eliminate human error in relation to judging scores, clearly showed the ball tracking between the uprights but, erroneously, then ruled that Nash’s point was a ‘miss’.

With the teams finishing normal time on level terms, this decision arguably cost Limerick a place in the All-Ireland final, although the Munster champions were awarded a dubious free to force extra time at GAA headquarters.

Limerick County Secretary Michael O’Riordan told Sentinel Sport that the Hawk Eye controversy would be discussed at last night’s board meeting.

“There is obviously widespread disappointment over what happened and we will be looking at all our options. I am ruling nothing in or nothing out.”

Successful Galway manager Mattie Murphy, who remains on course to guide the county to a remarkable seventh All-Ireland title at this level, was reluctant to predict what might happen in relation to any prospect of any refixture.

“It’s really out of our hands. All I know is that the incident happened in the very first minute and we played to the scoreboard for the rest of the game – and so did Limerick. And to be honest, I couldn’t see a foul for their free which led to extra time.”

The GAA suspended the use of Hawk Eye for the senior semi-final between Limerick and Clare which ended in a thumping seven-point win for the Banner men who now face Cork in the All-Ireland final for the first time ever.

Finally, it was a proud day for the Liam Mellows Club who had three players involved in Galway’s minor triumph – impressive corner back Michael Conneely, three-point man Adrian Morrissey and influential substitute Jack Hastings.