Referee Morris draws the ire of Bennis and fans

Len Gaynor has backed up Limerick boss Richie Bennis’ criticism of referee Eamon Morris in his handling of the GAA Munster Senior Hurling Championshiip semi-final joust with Clare at Semple Stadium, Thurles.

Bennis, who earned a sideline ban for some misdemeanor or other last season, is likely to once again face censure from the authorities following his mild outburst against the Dublin referee in the aftermath of the five points loss to their next-door neighbours. 

In all probability, as Bennis conceded, a goal from a resulting spot-strike wouldn’t have altered the outcome, but a few decisions earlier by the official also ‘went west’.

“He ran off the field so he must have felt guilty about something,” opined Bennis.

“A yellow card in the first half for Clare aggrieved me most, and he threw in the ball.  One of our fellows got a yellow card in the second half and he gave them a free,” Bennis added.

It was from this free that Clare hammered the sliothar downfield, from which a decisive goal arrived.

“He was a little fussy, stopping the game quite often due to small, niggling fouls – there was some pulling and dragging out there, and he blew for every one dose, never giving the game an opportunity to open up at all,” commented Gaynor. 

“He didn’t favour either team, he was very fair that way.  My only feel for Limerick was that maybe there should have been more time allowed at the end – there was a good bit of time taken in the sending-off (Brendan Bulger), and I felt he could have allowed a little bit more than he did.

“Still, it probably wouldn’t have made a whole lot of difference to the result – Clare were that little bit better than Limerick, having benefited from their opening round match with Waterford.”

Remarked Tipperary legend and TV3 pundit Nicky English: “Limerick no doubt will have some complaints about the referee.  There were some strange decisions alright, but I felt the referee evened that out and even if he had given the penalty at the end, it wouldn’t have been enough to save Limerick.”

Many homeward bound Limerick supporters from Thurles took time to text RTE Radio One’s ‘Have Your Point’ to vent their anger at Morris, many of whom were critical of the Munster Council in appointing a match referee from outside the province. 
“No way should a Dub have refereed this game, and the whole appointment of referees for such games should be seriously reviewed,” said one texter.