Referee Brendan Cawley made the correct call in pulling Donegal's Ciaran Thompson for touching the ball on the ground in the closing stages of the All-Ireland semi-final.
The Donegal players were livid when Thompson was pulled for a technical foul on 64 minutes but, as per the GAA rule-book, it was the right decision.
The rule-book states it's a foul 'To touch the ball on the ground with the hand(s), except as provided in Rule 1.2,' with the exceptions listed below.
"Exceptions: (i) The goalkeeper may play the ball on the ground with his hand(s) inside his own small rectangle.
"(ii) Any player who falls or is knocked to the ground while in possession of the ball may fist or palm the ball away on the ground, and may score by so doing.
"(iii) The ball may not be lifted off the ground with the knees."
In the context of the game, Cawley's decision was huge and the Donegal players were furious.
Ryan McHugh led the protestations after seeing a replay of the incident on the big screen in Croke Park resulting in Cawley bringing the free in closer to the goals.
Robert Finnerty tapped it over putting Galway one up and then Liam Silke doubled the lead five minutes later to win the game.
Speaking on The Sunday Game, Tyrone legend Peter Canavan described Cawley's decision as massive, but having spoken to a few referees in the aftermath, he reasoned that it was the right decision.
"I've spoken to a few refs since and they say the ref was dead right here," says Canavan.
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"The Donegal players were so angry saying that he didn't touch it on the ground and the rule is if the ball touches the ground, it's a free."
Canavan explained how, on Saturday, Paul Murphy was pulled by David Gough for the same infringement in Kerry and Armagh's semi-final.
"It was the correct call and the exact same thing happened Paul Murphy (Kerry) on Saturday at a crucial game where he had the ball, he slipped, and the ball touched the ground.
"Even though it was still in possession, and David Gough was quick to give a scoreable free in to Armagh.
"It was the same there. As frustrating as it was.
"The rule also, if you have possession of the ball, you're tackled and the ball goes to the ground, if you're still in possession, you can play it on the ground, yet when you're in possession, you can't touch it like that there so it's frustrating but Brendan Cawley got it right."
