Referee Michael Duffy has admitted that he was wrong to allow Monaghan's goal against Down.

Controversy reigned at the Athletic Grounds on Sunday when Conor McManus picked out Tommy Freeman with a quick free and the Magheracloone clubman fired to the net to give Monaghan a four-point lead with 13 minutes left.

It was a clear error from the match official as he had called Brendan McArdle over to speak to him but then let Monaghan take a quick free with the Down defender out of the play.

As it happened, it made no difference as the Mourne County staged a gutsy comeback to win anyway but that hasn't stopped pundits from singling out Duffy's mistake and referees chairman Pat McEneaney is quoted in The Examiner saying:

"We both had a look at the video, had a chat and he admits with the benefit of hindsight that he got it wrong. It was an error on his part and he fully appreciates that.

"We would also support referees allowing the opportunity for quick frees but once he took out the notebook and called the Down player he was entitled to stop the game.

"He made a mistake and has seen that after looking back at the video. The quick free took the Down player out of the equation for defending.

"There is no problem in trying to play advantage and coming back to book a player afterwards but he was entitled to stop play in this situation.

"Michael holds his hands up but it has to be pointed out he was the man who got the new square ball so right on the opening weekend of the championship." Tweet

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