GAA Chief Reveals New Measures To Avoid Repeat Of Tipperary v Kilkenny Debacle

It wouldn't quite feel like the end of an inter-county GAA season without a touch of controversy, and the second All-Ireland hurling semi-final earlier this month certainly provided that.

After Cork's mauling of Dublin in the first of the semi-finals, Tipperary and Kilkenny played out a thriller worthy of their old rivalry the following day.

Ultimately, Tipp would run out narrow winners to return to the final for the first time since their victory in the 2019 decider. However, the margin of their victory was the bone of contention.

A clear wide from Noel McGrath late in the game was signalled as such by the umpires and referee, but the stadium's scoreboards (and those on the live RTÉ broadcast) marked it as another point for Tipp, putting the score at 4-21 to 0-29.

The two teams therefore both spent injury time believing Kilkenny needed a goal to level things up, after Jordan Molloy's point seemingly made it a three-point game.

The GAA would later clarify that the final score of the game was 4-20 to 0-30, apologising for the confusion which arguably affected both teams' approach to the end of the game.

An investigation was launched and, as Tipp now prepare to face Cork in Sunday's final, referees chief Donal Smyth has explained the confusion that led to the mix-up on semi-final day.

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Speaking to the Irish Examiner at the launch of the GAA's RefWell initiative, referees chief Donal Smyth explained how the scoreline confusion had been allowed to happen in the Tipperary v Kilkenny semi-final.

Smyth said:

It was a mixture of stuff. The time of the game probably didn't help. So at 69 minutes we had a Kilkenny sub, at 70 minutes the ball went wide, we had a Tipperary sub at the same time.

We didn't notice the scoreboard had changed in relation to that (McGrath's wide). Then the difficulty is we didn't get a break in play to stop the game to check the thing. We've changed our processes last week and our protocols around that, so it's something we just have to work on.

He also confirmed that measures would be in place for this weekend's final to ensure no possibility of a repeat incident. Communication is the key element that those within the association admit needs to be tightened, especially in chaotic moments such as the close of the game.

Kilkenny were gracious in defeat despite the controversy, though many in the GAA noted the incident could have become far more notorious had the Cats managed to snatch the late goal they were chasing - a goal which would, in reality, have seen them win rather than secure a draw, making a late score clarification far more contentious.

Now, though, all eyes turn to Sunday, with Tipperary hoping to win their first All-Ireland in six years. Their opponents, Cork, are seeking to end an even longer 20-year drought.

An epic contest gets underway at 3:30 pm in Croke Park.