'There's a hole in De Net, Dear Liza, Dear Liza...
One of the great sources of GAA cockups is poor netting behind the goals, even for major games. Even in the lowliest division of junior soccer, the referee always checks out the nets before commencing play. When was the last time anyone saw a referee, linesman or umpire doing this, even in Croke Park on All-Ireland days?
An Moltóir was first introduced to this problem back in the 1950s when, as a young child, he attended an All-Ireland senior camogie quarter-final between London and Waterford (yes, it was that long ago) at the old Show Field in Dungarvan. Standing beside a rather makeshift goal, he was astonished to see a goal being awarded after the ball clearly fell through the top of the net into the goal. Presumably, London hadn't brought their own umpires with them.
The Waterford under-21 hurlers in a recent Munster championship tie with Cork in Walsh Park year scored a similar goal, but it had no bearing on the ultimate outcome of the game. That wasn't the case with the most famous goal-through-the-net case of all time, scored by Offaly hurlers against Laois in the Leinster championship in 1981. Not only did Offaly win the game via a pointed free by Paddy Kirwan taken from the Drumcondra Road, but they went on to win the All-Ireland. Of course, the fates got their own back on the Faithful County the following year when they were beaten in the Leinster final by a goal scooped into the net after the ball was crossed by Liam Fennelly from way over the end line. Of course, Kilkenny went on to All-Ireland honours. A good example of what goes round, comes round, perhaps.
However, the most amazing 'hole-in-the-net ' cockup of all time surely occurred at a senior football club championship game in Dungarvan last year, when an umpire signalled a wide after a penalty kick flew through the net at the back of the goal, and both the other umpire and the referee went along with the decision. Of course, this being the sunny South East, maybe everybody had the sun in their eyes at the time.
Go to Top
