WE’RE LIVE FROM Croke Park. Get in touch in the usual ways.
Tweet us @The42GAA, find us on Facebook, send your emails to fintan@the42.ie or leave a comment below.
************
Afternoon all, it’s Leinster senior football semi-final day in Croke Park.
Here’s what’s in store:
- Meath v Westmeath, 2pm
- Dublin v Kildare, 4pm
So can anyone stop the Dubs this year? We’ll see later if Kildare can come up with a plan to stifle them but before that it’s the turn of Meath or Westmeath to book a place in the decider on 12 July. Throw-in is at 2pm with Cork’s Conor Lane the referee for this one.
Let’s get to the team news then shall we?
Five changes to the Meath team. Royal County supremo Mick O’Dowd is rolling out the big guns for the showdown against the Lake County with Conor McGill, Mickey Burke, Bryan Menton, Kevin Reilly and Mickey Newman coming in for starts.
Davy Dalton, Nicky Judge and Brian Power make way in defence, with Adam Flanagan and Joey Wallace also dropping out.
Meath
1. Patrick O Rourke (Skryne)
2. James Mc Entee (Curraha)
3. Conor Mc Gill (Ratoath)
4. Donncha Tobin (Blackhall Gaels)
5. Mickey Burke (Longwood)
6. Donal Keogan (Rathkenny, Capt.)
7. Bryan Menton (Donaghmore Ashbourne)
8. Harry Rooney (Skryne)
9. Kevin Reilly (Navan O Mahony’s)
10. Graham Reilly (St. Colmcille’s)
11. Padraic Harnan (Moynalvey)
12. Andrew Tormey (Donaghmore Ashbourne)
13. Michael Newman (Kilmainham)
14. Stephen Bray (Navan O’Mahony’s)
15. Brian Mc Mahon (Ratoath)
There’s just the one change in the Westmeath team named by manager Tom Cribbin.
Lorcan Smyth has been called up ahead of Ronan Foley.
Westmeath
1. Darren Quinn (Tyrrellspass)
2. Killian Daly (Mullingar Shamrocks)
3. Kevin Maguire (Caulry)
4. John Gilligan (Ballymore)
5. Paddy Holloway (Castledaly)
6. Kieran Martin (Maryland)
7. James Dolan (Garrycastle)
8. Paul Sharry (St Loman’s)
9. Daragh Daly (Mullingar Shamrocks)
10. Ray Connellan (Athlone)
11. Ger Egan (Tyrrellspass, capt.)
12. Denis Corroon (Mullingar Shamrocks)
13. Lorcan Smyth (Mullingar Shamrocks)
14. John Heslin (St Loman’s)
15. Shane Dempsey (St Loman’s)
Here’s the Meath subs:
Conor McHugh, Adam Flanagan, Eamon Wallace, David Dalton, Joey Wallace, Brian Power, Sean Tobin, Donal Lenihan, Damien Carroll, Nicky Judge, Jamie Queeney.
And here’s the Westmeath subs:
Gary Connaughton, Francis Boyle, John Connellan, John Egan, Ronan Foley, Kieran Gavin, Dennis Glennon, Jamie Gonoud, Paul Greville, David Lynch, John Stapleton.
Meath 0-1 Westmeath 0-0
Lightning start by Meath as Stephen Bray knocks over an early point.
Meath 0-2 Westmeath 0-0
Graham Reilly doubles Meath’s lead with Eamonn Wallace, a late inclusion in attack instead of Mickey Newman, setting up the point again.
Meath 0-2 Westmeath 0-1
Westmeath pull a point back, an excellent outside of the right effort from John Heslin.
Meath 0-4 Westmeath 0-1
Meath looking really sharp in attack in the early stages as Eamonn Wallace turns scorer on this occasion off his left.
Meath 0-5 Westmeath 0-1
Meath so close to hitting the net early on but Bryan McMahon’s palmed effort is denied by the upright. Then Graham Reilly charges through to clip over a point that sends Meath four clear.
Meath 0-6 Westmeath 0-1
Stephen Bray pops up with his second point of the day, firing over off his left for Meath.
Second big goal chance of the day for Meath but they’re foiled as Mickey Newman, a temporary substitute, shoots against the legs of Darren Quinn.
Meath well on top so far, they’ve a five point lead and could have struck for two goals as well. It’s noticeable as well how well Kevin Reilly is playing back in defence for Meath in the sweeper role with Westmeath devoid of attacking inspiration so far.
Meath 0-8 Westmeath 0-1
Meath stamping their authority on the scoreboard now with Bryan Menton and Wallace tacking on further points.
Meath 0-9 Westmeath 1-3
And suddenly there’s some life in this game! Westmeath’s supporters in full voice as they have a few scores to shout about. John Heslin swings over a free and Shane Dempsey registers one from play, while Eamonn Wallace bangs over his third point of the day for Meath.
But the centrepiece of this scoring burst was Kieran Martin galloping forward for Westmeath from his number six berth and firing home a goal just like he did against Wexford.
Meath 2-10 Westmeath 1-3
And the complexion of this game has completely changed now. We thought there was a bit of a contest emerging but Meath look to have killed off the match at an early juncture. It’s two emphatic finishes to the net from Bryan McMahon for Meath but the Westmeath defence was carved open by long deliveries. Andrew Tormey adds a point from a free and Meath are gone ten clear.
Subs
Westmeath ring the changes but it could be too late for them to force their way back into this. John Connellan comes on for midfielder Daragh Daly and corner-back Killian Daly is replaced by Jamie Gonoud.
Meath 2-10 Westmeath 1-5
A pair of points in quick succession for Westmeath courtesy of Heslin and Dempsey.
Meath 2-12 Westmeath 1-6
The one-way traffic continues. Wallace and Reilly point for Meath, that’s a combined 0-7 from play so far for that duo. Martin replies by smacking over a fine point for Westmeath.
Eight-point lead for Meath at the break, they’re well on top. Westmeath need a huge turnaround to get back in to contention here.
Scorers for Meath: Brian McMahon 2-1, Eamon Wallace 0-4, Graham Reilly 0-3, Stephen Bray 0-2, Bryan Menton, Andrew Tormey (0-1f) 0-1 each.
Scorers for Westmeath: John Heslin 0-4 (0-3f), Kieran Martin 1-1, Shane Dempsey 0-2.
Sub: Westmeath make one change at the break as David Lynch comes in for Lorcan Smyth.
Meath 2-12 Westmeath 1-9
John Connellan on the mark with a pair of points to get Westmeath off to a fine start in the second-half.
Meath 2-13 Westmeath 1-9
Graham Reilly knocks over a neat point after a fine Meath team move splits open the Westmeath rearguard.
Sub: Another Westmeath change as Denis Glennon becomes the latest player to be introduced, at the expense of Shane Dempsey on this occasion.
Meath 2-13 Westmeath 1-10
Heslin slots over a free after being fouled himself and Westmeath are facing a six-point deficit once more.
Meath 2-14 Westmeath 1-11
Points swapped as Tormey converts a free for Meath and Heslin hits a ’45 for Westmeath.
Subs: Meath bring in David Dalton and Adam Flanagan for Michael Burke and Harry Rooney.
Graham Reilly is gone off for Meath are being shown a black card with Michael Newman coming on to replace him.
Meath 2-16 Westmeath 1-11
Great impact by Newman as he floats over a point moments after coming on. McMahon adds another soon after and Meath are coasting clear once more.
Meath 2-17 Westmeath 1-11
And the gap continues to grow as Bray knocks over another for Meath.
Meath 2-17 Westmeath 2-11
Goal for Westmeath! Kieran Martin with his second of the game.
Meath 2-17 Westmeath 2-12
Fine point off his left by John Heslin. Westmeath coming back in to this?
Meath 2-17 Westmeath 2-13
Heslin on target again, this time from a ’45 and the gap is down to four.
Meath 2-17 Westmeath 2-14
And incredibly it’s back now to three points! Ray Connellan with the latest Westmeath point and their supporters are springing to life around Croke Park.
Meath 2-17 Westmeath 2-15
Another fine point from Heslin and Westmeath are only two adrift now!
Meath 2-18 Westmeath 2-15
That’s a really important point for Meath to settle their nerves as Newman converts a free into Hill 16.
Black card for Meath’s Donncha Tobin are he dragged back Westmeath sub John Connellan.
Meath 2-18 Westmeath 2-16
Heslin confidently steps up to slot over another free for Westmeath and and then he hits the post from play with a chance to cut the gap to the minimum! Huge excitement here.
Meath 2-18 Westmeath 2-17
And now the gap is back to one. A clumsy foul by Meath sub Brian Power and Heslin does the rest form the free.
Meath 2-18 Westmeath 2-18
It’s level! Kieran Martin tears in the endline for Westmeath and fists over a point. After being eight down at half-time and nine early in the second-half, Westmeath are level!
Whoops!
We couldn't find this Tweet
Westmeath 3-19 Meath 2-18
This is absolutely amazing, what a revival from Westmeath.
And now Meath’s Paddy O’Rourke has been shown a red card for a foul on Kieran Martin.
It’s hard to disagree with Mack. It’s not necessarily a Connacht/Leinster thing. I think on an awful lot of 50/50 calls the refs favour the bigger team. They get the breaks when the don’t really need it.
Also, whilst is not traditionally the done thing, I do love how passionate Mack is about Connacht.
@Jack Kirwan: yes, sensible post. Toulouse if you watch them as well, they get most of the 50/50’s and quite a few frankly wrong decisions in their favor as well. Italy for years in the 6n’s , got rode. I think in the subconscious of the ref, if you make a mistake, it’s better to make it in favor of the ‘big’ team that’s most likely to win as it’ll be less controversial in the long run.
Blimey, that’s refreshing. His actual opinion, undiluted. Right or wrong I’ll defend his right to vent his frustration.
Absolutely correct Mack well
said……!!
Like it or not, this level of honestly is refreshing and rugby dearly needs the characters and the headlines. Bring it on.
@Nicholas Farrar: even football has more respect for refs that players calling them cheats in press conferences
@teuO6nLS:
He didn’t call the Ref a Cheat…
I was at the game and it was pretty clear that the Ref was getting intimidated by the crowd.. It was pointed out by Cian Prendergast with the time he was spending on TMO on perceived Connacht infractions…
Far too much familiarity with big Leinster players and refs.. won’t happen in business end of Europe.
@Patrick Mulkerrin: Like when the ref didn’t even know who the captain was and warned 2 players.
Never change Mack! Proper order
Dead right Mack, it’s happening week in week out. Ffs freeze frames to try and get a Connacht player carded, while not even looking at a shoulder to the head by a Leinster player. I actually hard to see an Irish ref in charge of Connacht games as it always seems like they’re a few points down already before the game even starts.
@Mandog68 Mandog68: *hate to see
@Mandog68 Mandog68: the funny thing is, as Leinster fans we feel the same way. Feels like Irish refs usually favour Munster
@Mark O’Keeffe: then ye should take yer heads out of your own arses. Might see more clearly then!
@Michael Corkery: that’s not polite or helpful. The point is everyone has a view that is biased in favour of the team they support. We should all try to be aware of that.
Poor situation when Donal Lenihan, now of Leinster, made only passing comment on blatant Barret take out of Aki. Ref and commentators too afraid of Aviva crowd and Leinster influence. Over reliance on Leinster is Ireland’s loss.
@John Healy: are you having a laugh ? Donal Lenihan couldn’t be more bias to Munster if he wore a Munster jersey during commentary.
I didn’t see the Barrett clash from up in the stand but all incidents should be handled in the same way. Clear lack of consistency by refs. Munster got seriously favourable refereeing in their last 2 European cup games. Almost identical incidents where Munster centre should have seen red card n then opposition got several harsh cards,
@B Gal: funny definition of favourable reffing- Munster whistled off the pitch v Castres
On reviewing, I wronged Donal Lenihan. He did call it out in real time. Apologies Donal! Always a class act!
Leinster and IRFU will eventually ruin the game nationally if they continue with their close arrangements. It leads to the frustrations that we have just seen. Over reliance on Leinster will cost both Ireland and Leinster.
@John Healy: Couldn’t agree more. Maybe the other 3 provinces should merge and take them on !!!!
Italy never get a break in the Six Nations, Why because the Refs go on to the pitch expecting them to lose Connacht have the same prejudice
@Rugbyanbeer: Realistically speaking Italy and Connacht lose matches because their opposition are usually much superior. Absolutely nothing to do with referees.
@Tom Reilly: yes Tom, agreed. But when 2 head contacts are ignored by the TMO, the 2nd taking out the 10, then that may have an effect on the end result.
@Tom Reilly: I think Tom has Arsene Wenger specks on.
@Rugbyanbeer:
I think the atmosphere at the game had a lot to play in it… It was about 10 to 1 to Leinster and they can be intimidating…
Busby was too weak of a ref to live in that cauldron… A percieved slight by Connacht lad and they were looking for the Death Penalty and same thing by Leinster and we get crickets…
That is not Leinster fault, refs have to be better and understand that
You gotta love Mack’s passion, fair play to him. I’m a Leinster fan but I did think it was weird that Barrett’s tackle on Bundi wasn’t looked at. Having said that, I thought Busby had a good game.
@peter lynch: at least you are being honest about what you saw
@peter lynch: of course you did you are a lenster fan
@TV PC: ’tis a fine day for a mute
@peter lynch: Tackle? Shoulder to the face at a ruck man, get it right
I think Mack could well be in big trouble here. You cannot have players publicly criticising referees and possibly influencing future games by putting pressure on refs by proxy. It’s a dangerous precedent which any player can copy if he gets away scot free.
@Tom Reilly: Absolutely not he has spoken the truth….
@Liam Joyce: The truth according to Mack. Well either the ref will get disciplined or Mack will. Both can’t be right.
@Tom Reilly: you can but you can’t have the management criticising officials…that’s exactly why Mack did it because he knew Wilkins couldn’t say it.
@Liam Joyce: you must be a connacht fan so.
@Tom Reilly: When did you see a URC ref disciplined…… Never!?
@Liam Joyce: his/ your version of truth maybe
@anthony davoren: That’s called criticism by proxy.
@Tom Reilly: if the IRFU have any stones he’s kissed any chance of a central contract goodbye
@Liam Joyce: The truth is a subjective thing when it comes to refereeing decisions. They are impartial – always. But that doesn’t mean they get every decision right. But regardless, players & coaches sign up to a code of conduct the moment you join any rugby club in Ireland. You can read it in your local clubhouse. It clearly states “Do not publicly question the referee’s judgement and never their honesty”
@Tom Reilly: it’s called honesty. They’re hardly going to discipline him after missing the Barret hit on Aki and the head contact on Loane. They’d have to be seen to do something about the tmo and ref as well and they definitely aren’t going to go down that road.
@teuO6nLS: sure there all kept in leinster anyway
@Tom Reilly: Leinster fans want him fines to protect the bias the enjoy
@Paul Ennis: Well said Paul. Mac is a legend of an Irish player and to see him approach his former form today was amazing. But let’s be real, he’s out of order here. I can understand his frustration because he wants to win but the concept Connacht are hard done by is nonsense. The Barret moment was shown on TV, there is zero chance it wasn’t reviewed by the TMO. The amount of people here who have no clue how the TMO works is depressing. Mac shouldn’t be fined, but he should be spoken to, referees put up with enough abuse that none of these keyboard warriors will experience or understand.
@PJ Smith: very well said. The idea of ‘disciplining’ refs is risible. Players make mistakes, so do refs. But respecting officials is a core value of the game.
@Mark O’Keeffe: So you are saying it is ok for referees to consistently make wrong decisions, along with TMO’s, without there being any repercussions? The game will end up like boxing. If a player is playing badly over afew matches, what happens? They’re dropped! He same should apply to officials. It should be performance based and if they are getting decisions wrong consistently they should be withdrawn and made review how they are reading and applying the letter of the law.
@John Clifford: Referees are viewed regularly, even down at the lower levels of the amateur game. If you make the standard required, you are promoted to a higher level and dropped to a lower level if you don’t. Every year, the regional referees associations will put forward referees to trial on IPAS and if they are good enough they will go on to the National Panel. There are limited places on both and referees are rejected from both on a regular basis to make room for younger or better referees. Very few make it to High Performance and when they do, they are reviewed after every game by World Rugby… it just isn’t publicised. https://leinsterrugbyreferees.ie/step-by-step-process/
@Paul Ennis: *Referees are reviewed regulary
@John Clifford: it should be performance based, and to my knowledge it is. ‘Disciplining’ would be something else. It might help if there was a bigger budget for refs though, selections seem to be based partly on travel costs. Ideally the officials wouldn’t be from the country of the teams
@Tom Reilly: It is the TMO that screwed up… But Busby was far from being effected by the atmostphere..
@Paul Ennis:
Sorry but this is a player welfare issue and every person in the game can question that..
Leinster backs offside in every game
The irony is that this lack of even handed implementation of the rules actually harms Leinster.
This is not an important game in the grand scheme of things, so Leinster can afford to take a kick in the h0le now.
I wonder how important it is to keep Leinster winning so their fans continue to troop into the AVIVA and the money keeps rolling in.
@Phil O’ Meara: the irfu want leinster winning the champions cup. But they are definitely not influencing the referees in leinsters favour.
@Patrick O’Sullivan: this game wasn’t in the champions cup…
@Mark O’Keeffe: i never said it was.
@Patrick O’Sullivan: apologies, I thought you were being sarcastic. My bad
Mack is a moan. Yawn. They got lots of calls, the ones where the ref didn’t penalise neck rolls, head locks in at the side, off feet. Connacht got away with murder at rucks.
@Eugene Canavan: Bang on.
@Eugene Canavan: Absolutely correct. Their backs were offside more often than not as well.
@Eugene Canavan: you didnt watch the game and just made stuff up lol
@Eugene Canavan: Two huge calls went leinster way, not small penalty calls at rucks, not one croc roll was evident. Get over the bias, If that was Paul Boyle instead of Barrett we all know what the TMO would have done. People in all occupations are unfortunately affected by bias , be it conscious or unconscious.
@John Clifford:
Well if it was Paul Boyle the crowd would have taken roof off in jeers and boos…
Busby would have questioned the TMO… We would have had three replays with crowd wanting the Gardai to cvalled in (cause they would find him guilty early) and red card would have issued…
That what it was like that night.. Busby was totally intimidated by the crowd.
Well done Mack Hansen, it’s about time that players spoke put about the absolutely disgraceful officiating and dare I say biased refereeing that we are witnessing week after week from totally incompetent officials. I am not a Connaught supporter but I really felt sorry for them tonight from the first scrum when they were penalised after the Leinster prop clearly went down on his knees. And the wrong calls continued after that. Unless the authorities get a grip rugby is going down the the tubes.
Interesting to read. Dont agree at all. Was at game. Connacht and Mack got every 50/50 in second half to a point of almost being funny and two neck rolls ignored. I think Mack will watch it back and be a little embarrassed
@Matt Gilsenan: if you were at then you couldn’t possibly have a better perspective than us at home with replays and referees mike on. Mack was actually spot on and when you go home and watch the replay unbiased you’ll change your view
@anthony davoren: you don’t get the over all picture. You just see what your shown I’m
Afraid. I advise you to go to the game. All replays shown at game You can see the offside / ahead of kicker stuff. Dont need refs mic
@Matt Gilsenan: ya I saw Barrets clear out on bundee which should have been a red….I also saw the head contact to Loane that forced him out of the game with nothing from the tmo despite it being clear and obvious. I then saw the tmo intervene and convince the referee about the minimal contact that caused a Connacht player to get a yellow by replaying it 11 times and freezing the frame. Did you see all this from your seat?
@anthony davoren: yep. That’s why I pay the money to go.
@Matt Gilsenan: leinster fan disagrees lol the fact you are trying to cover it up shows it happens every game
@anthony davoren: Anthony… normally I find you to be quite a balanced contributor… but you have lost the plot here. The incident between Tector and Ioane couldn’t possibly be considered anything other than an accidental collision. Both players were falling when the collision happened. Shane Jannings can have no complaints. He deliberately stepped into the path of Luke McGrath. That yellow card is not about the level of contact due to dangerous, foul play – it was yellow for cynical play. ie… illegally preventing a potential try attacking opportunity and is along the same lines as a deliberate knock on. I watched it at home just like you did and I agree that you miss things when you are in the stadium but sometimes we only see what we want to when we watch from home.
@TV PC: says the clown they can’t even stand over a real name
The one that got me was when the ref clearly knew there was a penalty against Leinster, and pulled his arm down when he realised Connaught could go in the corner and the lead
@Colm Mitchell: “12, no!” “Hands away 12″
Proceeds to allow Bundee to play the ball off his feet killing a Leinster attack in the 22.
Yeah while the tmo had to repeatedly tell the ref to look at the screen and show freeze frames of the head contact, love ya Mack but come out of it mate, Aki screaming obscenities saying he go a turnover when he was never on the ball too
@Robert O’Connor: they didnt look at the barrett hit why are you making stuff up for? you didnt watch the game did you?
@TV PC: I watched the game very closely no dink in me which can’t be said now btw but don’t be like that mat it’s a sport it is what it is the oiubt is he shouldn’t be whinging after other calls sent their way
The only two times that Connacht have won in Thomand we had Welsh referees…..just saying
@Eoin Fleetwood: Thomond Park ……… not ThomANd !
My educated guess is that you are suffering from paranoia. Do you, good grief, believe that all the refs and TMOs are in cahoots with Leinster rugby so they can win every match. For your information Leinster have been on the wrong end of brutal decisions precisely because they were considered the big dogs. Sexton suffered rightly but he was right about Pyper. Hansen will probably suffer now which will be sad as he is back to his best.
@Tom Reilly: the man never at any stage said officials are in cahoots with Leinster, he simply stated that this crap seems to be happening to Connacht way too often (which you’d see for yourself if you actually watch their games).
@Mandog68 Mandog68: You’re right he didn’t say it but he implied it which is hair splitting on your part.
@Tom Reilly: did he imply it?… are you a mind reader?
@Mandog68 Mandog68: Well will you kindly remind me what his post is all about. I await with bated breath.
@Mandog68 Mandog68: “16 against 15″
@Mandog68 Mandog68: Let’s be fair then, has Mac analysed the decisions over a proper sample size and got anything to back this up? It’s not like the opposition is bit penalised ever.
Bundee didn’t really commit to it though, did he? Just tapping the back of his own head and not making any effort to curl up on the deck or anything. Don’t worry Mack, Ulster up next and we don’t get much either. See you there.
Leinster fan,after that i support connacht a great team,real warriors,but only 3 of that starting leinster team would actually make a proper full strength leinster team,and the bickering and moaning on here from connacht fans is embarrassing
@David Clarke: not bickering…allowed to state facts about the game are we not? Just because you are biased and don’t like what you’re hearing doesn’t mean it isnt true
@David Clarke: leinster with 10 times the budject still need refs and tmos to win games
They take our jobs and women too
Long ban coming his way and absolutely deserved.
Can’t get out played by academy kids and then blame the ref
@teuO6nLS: spoken like the sanctimonious opinionated pri%k you are. BTW, Your boys ran a great line out tonight – vindicated all your BS!!
@teuO6nLS: Mack will be fine. No discipline action against him. Wilkins however could have if he said it. Can’t discipline a lad for speaking the truth. They did miss the hit on Aki by Barret, they did miss the hit on Loane that put him out of the game and they did spend 6 minutes replaying and replaying and freezing the contact that got the Connacht player a yellow even though it was innocuous enough. All Mack did was state these facts and ask for a bit of equality.
@teuO6nLS: you response shows all leinster fans know they get the calls
@teuO6nLS: No ban coming. God I pity you
@JJB: might have been better if your dad had left you on the sheets instead
@TV PC: “all the calls” when they lost the penalty count and had more players binned? Objectively you’re full of it.
@anthony davoren: watched it back, for Ioane he was getting tackled by multiple players, as he fell there was some contact with Tector’s head, but it looked like the worse blow was the back of his head as he hit the ground. So Mack might state facts as he is aware of, but it appeared to me that the officials got that one right
@teuO6nLS: the perplexing thing about you is that you dont realise what a patronising, opinionated, abhorrent pri&k you are. In fact you are the archetype of the Leinster fan the entire country detests . My guess is you cone from a privelaged background and never really had to do real work in your life. Dad will see to it that you get a position in a good firm whilst all around you the people do the work. Same as it ever was. The comment about my father & the sheets suggests that despite all that private eduction you are also a gouger at heart – no class.
Connacht robbed by the tmo and ref. No wonder people are losing interest
This phenomenon is true in all sports. Refs ref the weaker teams more than the perceived stronger team. Mack is wrong if he thinks this is a Connacht bias. Just look at the Croke Park fiasco where Leinster officials incorrectly forced Munster to play with 14 players during which Leinster scored a try.
@Cormac McCarthy: Cry more why don’t you Cormac. Ridiculous comment. Grow up.
@Carmine Lorenzo:
Munster wrongly down to 14 players when Leinster scored third try. A chaotic period of injuries led to confusion before Hugo Keenan’s try. MUNSTER WERE INCORRECTLY reduced to 14 men for nearly four minutes during their URC defeat to Leinster on Saturday.14 Oct 2024
@Lulu: yeah but ‘leinster officials forced’? Don’t ascribe to malice what can be explained by incompetence
Connacht were screwed again tonight. disgraceful from the tmo and ref but the IRFU know what the are doing
The ref gave calls against Leinster too. He gave them two yellow cards. Macks comments would be substantial or have more credit if they were genuine competitors. They are sitting 10th on the table. I admire their tenacity but Leinster were just the better team despite missing pretty much their entire 1st team. It’s a tough pill to swallow so of course they’re going to nitpick at nothing and blame the ref. Teams/coaches/players, people in general who blame referees is a sign that they are just inadequate and are not good enough. Leinster set the bar and constantly keep their momentum. That’s why they win. Mack’s just looking to raigbait because they didn’t win. He didn’t exactly set the world alight throughout the game either. Or throughout the autumn internationals for that matter.
@Harry O’ Callaghan: Mack would be better off focusing on the Connacht no show in the first half where they left themselves with a 17 point deficit.
@Harry O’ Callaghan: Enjoy not winning the European Cup again despite being given every possible leg up by the IRFU!
@Harry O’ Callaghan: You obviously have amnesia or selective memory as you like alot of other leinster supporters were on here, this forum, after the previous three champion cup final defeats complaining about the officials, TMO, media, vampires, gypsy cures etc……The contradiction is strong in this one!
I thought a characteristic of this game was that the ref clearly stated his own live opinion and then allowed the TMO intervene as he should….
Bit I think the TMO in the background was also forming an opinion on first viewing and only drawing the refs attention to what he had pre ordained to be fouled.
The TMO should be invited to make a call, and only insert himself u invites when it is very clear and obvious
@bobby gleeson: very well said, Busby always does this though
@bobby gleeson: Sorry but this is nonsense and the actual opposite of what the TMO is. The ref cannot see everything, the TMO alerts him when something is caught that the ref did not. The ref has the final day always.l but the TMO is a qualified ref to help with the process. The TMO shows him what he believes is the issue and it is always the refs call (bunker aside). People whine because the TMO sometimes makes a lot about an angle but neglect the fact the ref is standing in a pitch looking at a screen.
Mack Hanson says what he saw and he gets lambasted for it ! His points were that no game should be decided on good bad or indifferent ref/ tmo decisions/ interventions and that Connacht have had too many of these types of games. Personally derbies should have no “local” officials at all.
@richard gibbons: I can assure you that ending up with Whitehouse is no better.
Lot of goysplaining going on here
@Mark Anthony McNally: hahaha ..love it !
This is the connacht experience
Two poor teams
Leinster just about but optically not a good look when Aki got hit. Other way around a Pen.
@Billy Bell: don’t agree. Connacht were entertaining and combative and Leinster ‘A’ have some good players
URC level of officiating is inconsistent at best. While I think Connacht are their own worst enemy at times, the JB shoulder on Aki was definitely yellow, arguably red. Refreshing to hear a player vent his opinion with real bristle. On another note, a couple of those Connacht lineout forwards schooled the Leinster lineout, be interesting to see if any make the 6N squad.
@Mark Symmons: ah now we all know the answer to that
Wow! Passionate stuff from Mack. Unusual to hear such directness from a player. Serious frustration which has been building up for a long time it seems. You’d hope over the course of a season right/wrong decisions even themselves out, regardless off the team involved. Perhaps there is an unconscious bias towards “bigger” teams on behalf of officials. Studies show the home town factor does influence referees in sport, not just rugby. Anyway, it’s an incredibly difficult job refereeing rugby (I imagine) and mistakes are going to happen.
I hope for Mack’s sake he can move on and not let his frustration impact him negatively.
Getting sick of Mack Hansen and his antics now. Always has to be the centre of attention, one way or another. That’s disgraceful comments about the integrity of a referee. He should get a lengthy ban but he is indulged by the IRFU and the Irish rugby media so it’ll be brushed under the carpet, no doubt. The banter king can say and do as he likes.
@Aidan Farrell: Ray quit the Connacht bashing, turn on some enya and a scented candle, it’ll be alright!
@Aidan Farrell: I’m sure the feeling is mutual from Mack
Surely every team and their supporters feel the referee missed particular incidents especially if they lose the match. Often it is the TMO who is working in the background making decisions for the ref on the pitch. Communication could improve though – for example if the TMO reviewed the Barrett incident then the ref should be informed and he/she should inform the captain that it has been reviewed and no foul play detected. My opinion is that TMO review stoppages are spoiling the game – stops momentum and leaves supporters twiddling their thumbs as they wait or maybe they head for another round of pints!
The big question is what will the IRFU do?
Take it to the referee association or attack the player? We wait but don’t hold your breath. Maybe for once the player and coach are right
@Michael Dunne: Is it a big question? He’ll be disciplined. A one match ban on the 28th will do.
Pure nonsense
Lots of nonsense here with Connacht playing the victim. Ioane should have been carded for his hit on McCarthy. Busby had no interest at all and had to be forced to look at it. And even then just gave a penalty. Leinster were penalised more and were carded more. Connacht were mouthing off all game, which no doubt works against them.
Even the Barrett-Aki incident showed it. Minimal head contact, if any. Aki barely moves. Then he pokes his head up scanning for the ref shouting about the head hit before going down “injured” for a few mins. Connacht buying a penalty against King by jumping ahead of the tackle when there was no need for it was ridiculous as well. Connacht were far too focused on getting penalties at every opportunity last night and whining when they didn’t get them.
For me personally it’s very simple you generate your own luck …. Top teams in any sport seem to get the run of play and theirs a valid reasoning for that… Teams at the bottom all the wrong things seem to go against them and for the same reason that’s why they are at the bottom….. Again you make your own luck by hard work and drive to succeed…. This has always been the case with all sports…