The black card is becoming more and more of a talking point in gaelic football, especially after introducing the black card penalty, which is awarded when a player commits a black card offence within the 20 metre line or the arc on a goal-scoring opportunity.
There were two notable black card penalties this weekend. Cormac Quinn of Tyrone saw black when he found himself in a tangle with Mayo's Jordan Flynn. Cillian O'Connor converted the subsequent penalty. Peter Canavan called it a 'harsh call' due to the number of Tyrone defenders in the box when the foul occurred.
The panel analyse the decision to black-card Tyrone's Cormac Quinn and award a penalty to Mayo #RTEgaa pic.twitter.com/307DPfDEBV
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) February 24, 2024
There was more consternation during the Galway-Derry match yesterday. Tipperary referee Derek O’Mahony was under the spotlight this weekend as he deemed Kieran Molloy’s challenge on Diarmuid Baker to be worthy of a spot kick and a black card. It came with Derry holding a two point, and immediately after Galway's Niall Daly missed two opportunities for a goal.
Molloy was then blackcarded for a challenge on the Derry counterattack. It's clear that Molloy was the last line of defence, but is challenge was hardly cynical - he was clearly trying to dislodge the ball, however clumsily.
Shane McGuigan converted the penalty and Derry went out to dominate the rest of the game.
42 nóim #GALvDER@Galway_GAA 1-05@Doiregaa 2-07
Báite san eangach ag Shane McGuigan ón gcic éirice 🤩
Derry stretch their lead as the Slaughtneil man finishes to the net from the penalty spot.
BEO/LIVE AR @TG4TV 📺#AllianzLeagues #GAABEO pic.twitter.com/7K6hRAkSpZ— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) February 25, 2024
Speaking on League Sunday, former Mayo footballer was not happy with the decision.
“I’m going to be brutally honest: I think it’s a bit of a bizarre black card for me. It's not a takedown, it’s not intentional, it’s a huge swing in a game that Galway has got themselves back into,” Keegan said.
“It's gone from a three-point game to a five-point game on the back of Galway missing two-goal chances, and to condemn it, Kieran Molloy gets a black card.
It was the big turning point in the game, and to be honest, I think it ruined the contest overall. Not that the game was amazing, but I think the fact Galway were right in the game is a kick in the teeth.”
Leaving fans short changed
Keegan believes that referees are losing fans as they all have different views on the black card.
"I would have an issue because he consults his umpires but there was no obvious trip. I think we had the same issue in the Mayo v Tyrone game last night where a referee gives a penalty," Keegan said.
"Even looking at it, it didn’t look like a penalty or a black card, and there was no consultation over that. It's just the inconsistency over what the black card is over what is being given for a black card. I think that is the annoyance coming from a viewers point of view."
We will more than likely be having this conversation this time next week, so would the introduction of VAR or a three-call rule prove beneficial in the GAA? It might eliminate mistakes like we saw today, but at the end of the day, it's how the referee determines the rules of the game.
Speaking after the match to reporters, Padraic Joyce wasn't make any excuses.
We had a great goal chance to go one point clear. Instead of that, we find ourselves conceding possession in the middle of the pitch and conceding a penalty which was bizarre from our side. Straight away another black card. We played that period with 13 men and Derry really hurt us.”
