'The goalie shouldn't be rewarded for doing that'

5 May 2025

Mayo's Ryan O'Donoghue tackles Cillian McDaid of Galway ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Enda McGinley has criticised the new rule which sees a two-pointer reduced to a one when an opposing player touches the ball before it goes over the bar.

That’s exactly what happened in the 53rd minute of yesterday’s Connacht SFC final when Galway goalkeeper Conor Gleeson got his fingertips to Ryan O’Donoghue’s 50-metre free as it sailed over the bar.

"The goalie shouldn't be rewarded for doing that in my opinion, but anyway that's the rule at the minute,” Errigal Ciarán manager McGinley said during RTÉ’s commentary of the game in Castlebar.

“It goes from a two-pointer to a one-pointer. I would hate for an All-Ireland to be decided by such things. A forward has the gumption to go for it, is accurate, makes the distance...anyway."

Having trailed by 8 points at the break, Mayo are level and maybe should be in front after a very tight call on a two-pointer.

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— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 4, 2025