Former inter-county GAA referee Maurice Deegan explained why David Gough was correct to allow Paul Geaney's first half goal for Kerry in Sunday's All-Ireland final against Dublin.
Dublin were leading by two points late in the opening half when Geaney found the net following a superb pass by David Clifford. On the BBC's coverage of the game, both Mickey Harte and Michael Murphy felt the goal should have been disallowed for two bounces by the Kerry forward.
30 July 2023; Paul Geaney of Kerry solos the ball as Dublin goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton looks on during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship final match between Dublin and Kerry at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
"The rule is that second hop, he must take possession of the ball in his hand, but Paul Geaney was clever enough, he put the foot out and soloed it back into his possession," explained Deegan, who has been part of BBC Northern Ireland's analysis team for the championship.
"He has to hop the ball, take possession, hop the ball, take possession [for it to be a foul].
30 July 2023; Paul Geaney of Kerry scores his side's first goal past Dublin goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship final match between Dublin and Kerry at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
"What he did was hop the ball once, take possession. He hopped the ball again but soloed the ball before it came into his possession the second time. Therefore it is not a free. The goal is good. It bounced off his foot. The goal is good under rule."
Harte replied: "I thought it was a double bounce at the time. If the technicality suggests that it's not, so be it. That's another anomaly that we have in our game, and sure we have plenty of them."
The final has been slow to come to life but a stunning pass from David Clifford and Paul Geaney's finish puts Kerry ahead just before the break. pic.twitter.com/ktH7EVfSy7
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 30, 2023
See Also: Ex-Tyrone Footballer Says James McCarthy 'Crossed Line' Against Kerry
