Picture: Konrad Paprocki
CORK GAA officials have blamed the referee for the Rebels not beating Kerry in this year’s drawn Munster Final in Killarney.
In a statement issued today, the tone and content of which has surprised many, the Cork County Board said a contentious penalty decision by the match official at Fitzgerald Stadium probably cost them a place in the All-Ireland semi-final.
Amusingly, there is no mention of having to play a quarter-final before that.
Cork players and officials were furious when James O’Donoghue was awarded a second half penalty which he coolly converted to help earn Kerry a replay which they won very comfortably.
“The Cork statement read: “The tremendous performance of the team in the drawn Munster Final has been widely acknowledged and it is quite probable that but for a totally wrong refereeing decision in that game, Cork would now be in an All-Ireland semi-final.
“The short turn-around time between the replay, played in exhausting weather conditions, and the qualifier game against Kildare, cannot be ignored as a factor in that defeat.”
The following week Cork were well beaten by Kildare in a qualifier and, of course, Kerry had 27 points to spare over the Lilywhites on Sunday but the Cork County Board made no reference to that gulf in class.
The strongly-worded Cork statement, which formed part of a news release thanking former boss Brian Cuthbert for his work, has caused some surprise and amusement in Kerry and much of the reaction on social media has accused the Rebels of being bad losers.
SEEING RED: THE REACTION ON TWITTER
Niall Moynihan @somesnake: “Cork County Board statement is hilarious. Never read anything so pathetic in my life.”
Colin O’Connor @colinoconnor: “Cringewrothy stuff from the Cork County Board. Ill advised to release such a statement.”
Hugh @JGSaxcat: “Cork County Board statement. Absolutely classless.”
Micheál Nagle @Micheál_Nagle: “That statement from the Cork County Board is downright embarrassing. Have to revise plans to wear my Cork jersey to 5-a-side this evening.”
Tom Keane @tfmeagher: “Cork County Board in cloud cuckoo land with that statement.”
Tim @TimForde: “Radio Kerry football programme currently guffawing at Cork County Board statement.”
George Savage @GeorgeSavage2: “Rumours Kerry County Board are due to release statement on the Seamus Darby incident in 1982 shortly.”
John O’Donovan @j_goddy: “Serious questions must now be asked of the people who signed off on the release of this statement.”
Joe Leogue @JoeLeogue: “That Cork County Board statement is fairly cringeworthy. Refs, the media and even Mother Nature all out to get them.”
