Galway GAA chairman Paul Bellew has claimed that they would have refused to return to the field for the second half of last Saturday’s All-Ireland SFC semi-final if the HawkEye decision to disallow Shane Walsh’s ’45 wasn’t overturned.

The Tribesmen trailed Derry by 0-3 to 0-4 at half-time, but should have been level after the score detection technology overruled referee Brendan Cawley’s decision to award the point. However, replays showed Walsh’s 38th minute effort was clearly between the posts and the scoreline was rectified at half-time.

Speaking to Galway Bay FM, Bellew explained how he and Galway football committee secretary Padraig Kelly had visited the referee’s room at half-time to ensure that justice was done.

“We were very lucky at the timing of when it happened, just before half-time,” he said.

"I got the clip [of the ‘45] and it was straight down to the referee’s room with Padraig Kelly, the football secretary.

“In fairness, I thought the referee was superb. He was like, ‘lads, we are aware, we are looking’. They communicated very well. We just made the point that we won't be back on the field until we know it is rectified.

“It was going to be resolved anyway, but we just had to be on top of it to make sure it did occur. They were going to work on it, you just have to play the game a little bit.” 

As question marks continue to hang over the use of HawkEye in this Sunday’s All-Ireland SHC final, Bellew warned: “I am sure there are some difficult discussions going on in Croke Park about HawkEye this week because it could have major repercussions if it is not sorted.” 

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