LIMERICK WERE LEFT fuming in 2013 when an incorrect HawkEye call at Croke Park cost them a point against Galway in the All-Ireland minor hurling semi-final.
And in yesterday’s Munster final defeat against Tipp, the Shannonsiders were left cursing technology once again.
With the game in the balance in stoppage time, Limerick were camped deep in Tipp territory as they hunted an equalising goal.
But despite the fourth official signalling for an additional two minutes of play, referee Joe Larkin blew for full-time with 61 minutes and 20 seconds on the scoreboard clock.
Cork whistler Larkin, however, indicated to furious Limerick boss Leo O’Connor that he had played the extra two minutes by his watch.
Treaty chiefs will meet to discuss the situation this evening but any appeal is unlikely, despite their obvious anger.
County board vice-chairman Liam O’Sullivan made his views clear on Twitter yesterday:
“They announced that they were giving two minutes of stoppage time, it was blown up at 31:20 according to the Stadium clock,” O’Connor told reporters after the game.
“We’ve asked him coming off the field and he said it was 32 minutes by his clock. Which clock do you go by? That’s it.”
But O’Connor admitted that Limerick, who were denied a third successive Munster minor crown, left chances behind them.
“At this level, when the chances come you have to take them. We didn’t capitalise on them. We were a point up with four minutes to go and got a chance to go two up.
“Small things change games and that’s what happened.”
Peter Casey’s haul of 0-13 was in vain and O’Connor admitted that Limerick were over-reliant on their Na Piarsaigh hitman.
“We were but some guys take to the occasion and that guy’s as cool as a cucumber, a class act and as a good a minor as what’s in the country at the moment.”
Limerick will regroup for an All-Ireland quarter-final with Antrim as Tipp move into the All-Ireland semi-finals on 16 August.
