It was either a stunning piece of defending from Fintan Burke, or a terrible stroke of mis-fortune for O’Loughlin Gaels.
Chances are it was both, in an All-Ireland club hurling final that escaped the worst of Storm Isha.
When O’Loughlin Gaels full forward Luke Hogan turned St Thomas’ full back Fintan Burke in the corner forward position, you could sense a degree of trepidation creeping into the Galway side’s rearguard.
Wherever Hogan looked, there were runners and he picked out the onrushing Eoin O’Shea who, bearing down on goals, only had to pop the ball off to Owen Wall to set up a goal chance.
The ball eventually made its way to Wall, with O’Shea’s point attempt having been blocked but that gave Fintan Burke the time he needed.
Burke had sprinted across the end-line to man the nets with his goalkeeper Gerald Kelly where, eventually, he caught Owen Wall’s bullet of a shot.
Burke returned to his feet before lamping the ball out the field but you couldn’t escape the hush that, by that moment, had Croke Park gripped by the scruff.
The big screen showed Burke blocking the ball on the goal-line, taking it into his mid-riff… and while it wasn’t conclusive either way, the O’Loughlin Gaels contingent certainly felt that he had carried the ball over the line.
You can judge for yourself here.
Should that have been a Goal 🤔 pic.twitter.com/X5CRIObFuu
— Buff Egan (@buff_egan) January 21, 2024
No doubt the VAR debate will be opened up again ! #allirelandclubfinal pic.twitter.com/pPrhyIyfGK
— Diarmuid O'Sullivan (@dsully3) January 21, 2024
St Thomas’ went onto win the game, and their second All-Ireland club title, by one point after an Eanna Burke wonder-score in injury-time. Afterwards, O’Loughlin Gaels selector Nigel Skehan fumed at what he called a ‘ridiculous decision,’ not to allow the goal.
“Unfortunately, there was a massive call missed in the first-half with the goal decision,” he told KCLR.
“A ridiculous decision, to be honest with you, and I’m going to be straight about it, I’m not going to beat about the bush – a ridiculous decision.
“How they got it wrong I have no idea.
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