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Brian Gavin has come under fire from Donal Óg Cusack. James Crombie/INPHO
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'Could Brian Gavin be in any worse position? He doesn't need to be there'

Donal Óg Cusack has had his say on referee Brian Gavin.

DONAL ÓG CUSACK wasn’t too happy with Brian Gavin in Tullamore on Saturday.

The former Cork goalkeeper singled out the Offaly referee for his positioning for Dublin’s two penalties in the Leinster hurling quarter-final replay.

For David Treacy and Paul Ryan’s missed efforts, Gavin can be seen standing close to the small square on each occasion.

Here he is, clearly in view, as Treacy strikes his first effort wide:

Gavin 2 RTE / The Sunday Game RTE / The Sunday Game / The Sunday Game

And here is where Gavin was standing for Ryan’s effort at the end of the first half, which was brilliantly saved by Galway goalkeeper Colm Callanan:

Gavin 1 RTE / The Sunday Game RTE / The Sunday Game / The Sunday Game

Going through the footage of the game on Sunday morning, Cusack was struck by what he saw.

“Just one thing I wanted to look at here, could Brian Gavin be in any worse position?” he asked on The Sunday Game.

“I was looking at the tapes…if you picked the worst position for the referee to be standing…he’s in the way of the goalkeeper it it goes out, and the attackers if they come in.

“He has his two linesmen there, he’s got two umpires, he doesn’t need to be there.

“If somebody said what’s the worst place you could stand the referee in, I guarantee you it wouldn’t be far away from it (where Gavin stood).”

Cusack did hit bit for the goalkeepers union by describing Callanan’s stop from Ryan as a “special, special save.”

Save

Cusack added: “It’s one of the positives that’s come from this new rule, which is really good, (that) goalkeepers will be able to show even more from now on how good they are.”

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