*Ciaran Russell moves forward as Tiernan Hogan works to get a tackle in. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
A controversial penalty call was the main talking point following Saturday’s quarter-final between Éire Óg and Ennistymon but Magpies manager Noel Crowe was not one for questioning the vital call by the match officials.
Feakle referee Fearghal Gray awarded a first half penalty to Mark McInerney after the Clare U20 attacker fisted a shot wide after edging past Adam Ralph and Sean Driscoll, the decision to award the spot kick on the twenty first minute which he converted saw the Ennis side take the lead for the first time in the contest and it was an advantage they maintained for the duration of the game.
Looking back on their exit from the championship, Ennistymon boss Noel Crowe pointed to the green flag as the key difference in the clash which finished 1-06 0-05 in Éire Óg’s favour. “The goal was always going to be a huge score. It came to Éire Óg and it gave them that cushion. It was always going to be hard to break them down and get the number of scores we needed to peg them back. That was the difference in the game”.
When asked about the penalty call, he stated, “The ref thought he was tripped and its the ref’s view that counts at the end of the day and it doesn’t really matter what anybody else thinks”.
He added, “The result today is disappointing and ultimately we have had five good games in the championship and that’s what you bring on to future years and a lot of younger guys have been integrated into the team as well”.
WATCH: penalty clip
