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Cork manager Brian Cuthbert with Kerry boss Eamonn Fitzmaurice after yesterday's McGrath Cup final. INPHO/Donall Farmer
Discipline

GAA advantage rule use 'over the top' says Cork boss Cuthbert

Cork were in action yesterday against Kerry in the McGrath Cup final in Mallow.

CORK MANAGER BRIAN Cuthbert admits he was mystified at the use of the advantage rule in yesterday’s McGrath Cup final against Kerry.

Cork triumphed in the game by four points but Cuthbert was confused by decisions made by referee Derek O’Mahoney that went against his side in the second-half.

“I am just wondering are you allowed to touch a player now when he kicks the ball. There were two frees given to Kerry today – I am not being critical about the referee but I found it hard to fathom.

“Any bit of pressure at all on the kicker and it doesn’t go over the bar, the referee seemed to be happy to give back the free.  We have to look at it again on video but I felt that was over the top to be honest.”

One incident in particular caught Cuthbert’s eye when Kerry forward Barry John Keane kicked a wide in the second-half but the play was called back for a free.

“I don’t know where the advantage was or where the five seconds were. Nobody around me seemed to know.  Any time there is a player near a player when he is kicking the ball he is going to be putting his hand out to do something. If the referee is going to be calling all of those back the game is going to be stop start.”

Cuthbert feels there will still be some adjustment needed for the black card rule with three players – Aidan O’Mahony, Fintan Goold and Michael Shields – all falling foul of the new offence towards the end of yesterday’s match.

“I still think there is going to be a bit of bedding in for all of us. There were some things there that I thought could have been black cards and Kerry got yellow’s.

“There were other things that I felt, you know, one of the black cards was a small bit harsh.  I think when the league settles down and the thing pushes on it probably will be a good rule.”

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Cork’s Fintan Goold is shown a black card yesterday
Pic: INPHO/Donall Farmer

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