Galway manager Padraic Joyce says that he has no issues with Sean Hurson being appointed as referee for the All-Ireland final against Armagh next week.
Hurson was the match official when Galway last reached the All-Ireland final back in 2022, and infuriated the Tribesmen with a decision that gave Kerry the lead late in the game.
Both teams had chalked up a scoreline of 0-16 when John Daly was coming out of defence with the ball, but was deemed to be holding Killian Spillane's arm in the tussle, resulting in a free-kick to The Kingdom.
David Clifford converted the free to give his side the lead, and they went on to win the game and the All-Ireland in the process.
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“I wouldn’t say surprised," the Galway manager said of the appointment at Galway's All-Ireland final press night.
"But it is just that, I always say you can control everything bar the weather and the referee. I haven’t seen a free given since that for that type of a free since.
“I don’t know, I don’t think it cost us the game two years ago. I’ve said that before. I think it just changed the momentum for us in that particular game.
“Look, we have had Sean referee matches for us, I think this is his third or fourth game this year. He is a top, top referee. I can see why he got the final.”
A more pressing problem for Joyce is the injuries that some of his key players are carrying, an issue that he has had to manage for the whole season.
A large chunk of the starting team were missing for the majority of the league campaign, and stars like Shane Walsh and Damien Comer have been in and out of the side as they tried to deal with injuries and knocks.
Team captain Sean Kelly wasn't fit to start in the semi-final against Donegal last weekend, but Joyce is hopeful that he will be ready for the final.
“Sean is training away. He trained Tuesday night. Look, he probably wasn’t fully ready the last day so we are hoping to get another two weeks into him and we will check him out."
Kelly was captain back in 2022, and has helped guide this team to three Connacht titles in a row, and two All-Ireland finals in three years.
This time however, he will be hoping that it is him who climbs the Hogan steps to make a winning speech rather than the opposition captain.
