The Clare County Board will need to hold a raffle to cover the GAA’s fine for these actions.
At half-time of the pulsating All-Ireland semi-final clash between Clare and Galway, Michael Lyster and the RTE panel were made sing for their supper.
Gone are the days, now, of a quick turnaround at half-time. What used to be five minutes is now 15 as players get back to the dressing room to refresh, re-hydrate and refocus.
Clare used up that 15 minutes and then some. Galway did return to the pitch a minute earlier than planned – and no harm there – but Clare were not budging.
On three occasions, according to Lyster, did match officials enter the Banner dressing room to give them the hurry-up.
Eventually, four minutes over time, the Clare lads emerged. Within five minutes of the re-start they had reduced a four-point deficit to just the single point. The game eventually went to extra time but neither side could be separated and it ended 1-30 apiece.
The GAA’s official match guide states that sides will be fined €80 for every extra minute they go over the allowed 15. All told, that’s €320 Clare will have to pay out.
Following the drawn semi, Clare’s co-manager Donal Moloney explained why his side lingered so long in the dressing room. He told RTE:
“To be honest with you, we lost track of time. When you go eight points down to Galway you have a lot of stuff to fix.
“The players wanted to discuss things and thrash things out. You only get one shot at this. Your season is riding on this and you have to get it right but the players did to be fair and they turned in a huge second half.
“If we caused anyone any offence we’re sorry but we’ve had it both ways, we’ve been waiting on the field this year and we’ve had other teams waiting for us.”
Former Banner star Anthony Daly told viewers that, in Aussie Rules, red lights flash and a loud siren goes off in the dressing room after 15 minutes are up. Hard to lose track of time with that going on. Something for the GAA to consider…
There was an amusing twist, in between full- and extra-time, as both sides stayed in the dressing room longer than the set 10 minutes before Galway blinked first and set out to the pitch.
It’ll be interesting to see if the mind games tip on into the replay at Semple Stadium next weekend.
