Kilkenny legend Richie Power calls for goal line technology in Croke Park

O'Loughlin Gaels were denied a goal in their All-Ireland final defeat by St. Thomas in controversial circumstances

KILKENNY legend Richie Power is at a loss as to why the GAA don’t have goal line technology at Croke Park for big games.

Power was speaking after O’Loughlin Gaels were denied a clear goal in Sunday’s All-Ireland club final at Croke Park when Owen Wall’s shot went over the line.

St. Thomas and Galway star Fintan Burke was unable to keep the ball out, but the goal wasn’t awarded on a day when the Galway outfit emerged one point winners.

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Hawk-Eye is in operation at Croke Park (and Thurles) but only adjudicates on points.

The Premier League uses goal line technology to determine if the ball has crossed the goal-line, but the GAA hasn’t gone down that road.

It was one of a number of contentious decisions in the final, including James Regan’s red card and two other potential reds that weren’t given.

The game was won with an Éanna Burke “Roy of the Rovers” point that was “a one in a million shot,” according to Power.

“I said it to my father watching the game, with all the technology that’s out there, how we haven’t goal line technology in relation to incidents like that,” said Power.

“We had it a couple of years ago with Tipperary as well. There was a ball caught on the line (by Austin Gleeson, that wasn’t over the line). The goal was awarded.

“Hawk-Eye can figure out points. How they can’t come up with something in relation to goals?

“But look, people will talk about the positioning of the umpires. Okay, they probably weren’t in the best positions to make the call.

“But at the end of the day, it is human error.

“O’Loughlin’s were probably lucky to still have two players on the field. Conor Heary and Jordan Molloy were probably borderline red cards.

“James Regan, I don’t think made contact with Jack Nolan. It was just the manner in which the tackle went in.

“So you can look at different decisions. At the end of the day, listening to Brian Hogan (O’Loughlin Gaels manager) at the end of the game, he didn’t make any mention towards the goal effort.

“I think looking back he’ll be disappointed that they didn’t push on after the red card and maybe close out the game.”

Power (38) says O’Loughlin’s will have “huge regrets” about not finishing out what he says was “a fantastic game” with a man extra.

“But you have to give great credit as well to St. Thomas’ for the way that they stayed going,” continued the eight-time All-Ireland winner.

“Look, it’s human error. You can blame referees. You can blame umpires.

“At the end of the day if you had goal line technology there it’s a very easy decision and then the referee gets maybe something on his watch, or in his ear to say that maybe it’s a goal.

“It takes the decision out of the umpires and referees in live play.

“Obviously there was controversy in it, which probably comes with most games now.”

The 22nd series of Laochra Gael opens this Thursday evening on TG4 at 9.30pm and features Richie Power Junior in the first of eight episodes.

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