RTÉ Pundits Baffled After Controversial Goal In Monaghan Win Over Down Allowed To Stand
Monaghan have secured their place in the All-Ireland quarter-finals, topping their group after a 2-27 to 1-26 victory over Down this afternoon.
It was a scintillating game in the Athletic Grounds, one that was not short on drama.
The momentum in the match went back and forth between the two sides, with both looking in control at various points. Down looked to be in the ascendancy in the second half, at one stage opening up a four-point lead.
However a goal from Jack McCarron would get Monaghan back into the contest.
Monaghan knock at the door repeatedly and Jack McCarron finishes it off for a vital goal in their tussle with Down
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That proved to be a turning point in the match, with Monaghan going on to run out as winners by a margin of four points.
This result means that Monaghan will advance to the All-Ireland quarter-finals, while Down will now face a preliminary quarter-final next week.
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RTÉ Pundits Baffled By Controversial Score In Monaghan vs DownMonaghan were ultimately deserving winners in this game, but there was more than a hint of controversy about the pivotal moment in the game.
Jack McCarron's goal got his team back into it, although it would seem that the score should not have stood. Replays would indicate that the Monaghan clearly handled the ball on the ground in the lead up to the strike.
Speaking on The Sunday Game, both Cora Staunton and Tomás Ó Sé were baffled that the goal was allowed to stand.
"It's a clear pick up off the ground"The panel put the microscope over Monaghan's controversial second goal in their win over Down
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Staunton: I think when Conor Laverty looks back on it, he will be disappointed. I think David Coldrick made a mistake here...
We can see on replay that when Jack McCarron gets the ball back, it's a clear pickup off the ground. When you slow it down you can see that it's a clear pickup off the ground.
At that stage Monaghan were struggling for scores, they had only two points got and were four points down at that stage. You can see him handling it on the ground.
You can see the umpire is three metres off the ground and clearly sees that he picks it off the ground. It did change the game...
Ó Sé: I think it was the turning point in the whole match. Just as it was pointed out there, the umpire was actually bent over and looking down staring (at the incident). I don't know what he was actually looking at, it happened right in front of him.
Monaghan were better in that final quarter. They won more kickouts, they got their key men, their bench had an impact.
They probably overall deserved it, but that goal was key to the whole thing.
Down still had plenty of time to go on and win this game, but they will no doubt fell hard done by that this decision went against them.
Monaghan are unlikely to spend too much time thinking on the matter, with the county now looking forward to an All-Ireland quarter-final appearance.
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