A bold call!
While most agree that Dublin were deserved winners in their All-Ireland quarter-final clash with Limerick at Croke Park yesterday, the Treaty men can count themselves unlucky to an extent.
The Sky Blues were four-point winners in the end, but late in the game, Limerick had a golden opportunity to reduce the deficit.
Cathal O’Neill found himself with a goal-scoring opportunity before being hauled down by a Dublin defender.
However, instead of dishing out a black card, which would have meant a penalty for Limerick, the referee awarded a free kick.
Afterwards, Cork legend, Dónal Óg Cusack, felt that it was clear cut and questioned why the black card rule was brought in at all if it wasn’t going to be implemented.
He said: “You just ask, what’s the black card about? Why was it brought in?
“Dublin on one of the few occasions lost their men. We talked a lot about the tackles before the game, there was no question here.
“You see here, Cathal O’Neill just loses his man. Dublin get drawn in. One of the mistakes that Burke made during the day, he wasn’t conscious of what was behind him, Lynch doing what Lynch does so well and picks him. Then Dublin are scrambling to make the cover.
“No question, it should have been a black card. It’s the second time we have said it, why was the rule brought in at all then?”
