REFEREE MAURICE DEEGAN has admitted that he made a mistake in not showing a black card to Dublin defender John Small in this year’s All-Ireland final replay.
The Laois man showed black cards in that clash between Dublin and Mayo to Jonny Cooper, Lee Keegan and Rob Hennelly.
But he has showed honesty in freely admitting today that he failed to properly penalise Small for a hand trip on Mayo’s Andy Moran in the early stages of the game.
“In my view, I’m happy that I got the three of them right,” Deegan remarked when speaking to RTÉ Radio Sport today in Croke Park.
“But I will say one thing, I definitely missed the black card that I should have got – that was in the first five minutes of the game.
“It was John Small on Andy Moran. I wasn’t 100% sure that I saw it.
“We were wired up. Obviously, when you come to Croke Park your umpires and everyone is wired up.
“I would have asked my linesman did he see it, and he said he didn’t see it clearly.
“When you don’t see it clearly – and especially from where I was standing, I couldn’t see it clearly either – I asked the umpires and no one had seen it properly, they weren’t 100% sure.
“When you’re giving a black card in situations like that, you have to be 100% sure, especially with the black card.”
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Cannot believe this, absolutely devastated. Rallying has lost a special, special person.
Desperately sad news. I remember sitting in Craig’s car when I was younger during the rally of the lakes thinking life can’t get any better than this. A legend, and a gent. RIP.
@Seán O’Sullivan: lovely story, the best part being it wasn’t lost on him how much joy that would have brought to a young rally fan, coz he was probably also thinking life doesn’t get better than this. Taken way too soon, but through his infectious positivity and heartwarming raw emotion, he experienced more happiness than most of us could wish for, I’m just glad that I got to feed off some of that. Rally Finland in 2016 was just so brilliant, he never let the politics dampen his enthusiasm for his passion, rest easy Craig.
Rip
Oh my god I am heartbroken, rip Craig, rest easy up there with Jaffa.
Absolutely devastating news, he has been a great ambassador for Ireland and motorsport. A really talented driver and a really decent person. Condolences to his family and friends, he’ll be a massive loss to the motoring community. RIP.
A true great gone, can’t believe it
So sad. RIP Craig. My confidence to family and friends. Sad loss for Irish sport
I am absolutely gutted for his family and friends, never had the good fortune to have met him but have been following his career for years. A very sad day. My deepest sympathies.
Horrific news. RIP
We are totally speechless and numb
A true irish legend so so Sorry to Craig’s family
From all you followers in ashbourne co meath
RIP Craig Breen.terrible news to hear.
Condolences to his family and friends
May the Lord spare him
R.I.P
RIP Craig Breen. Condolences to his family and friends.