Johnny Kelly took issue with the decision not to award Offaly a penalty in the 58th minute of last Sunday’s Allianz Hurling League Division 1B final against Waterford.

The Offaly manager was adamant that Iarlaith Daly should have been punished for pulling back Brian Duignan’s hurl, thereby preventing him from shooting with only goalkeeper Billy Nolan to beat.

The decision sparked outcry from Offaly supporters who also felt their team was hard done by a fortnight earlier when James Mahon was controversially sent off against the same opposition for a high challenge on Gavin Fives at Walsh Park, and subsequently lost his appeal.

“I think Michael Kennedy (referee) had a really good game. I just think that that one decision probably was the one that we would look back on and have a bit of regret over,” Kelly told reporters after the Faithful County’s second half comeback fell narrowly short.

“If that's championship, you'd be pulling your hair. It's a League final, we're promoted, so it is what it is. But I do know that the officials made contact to say that it was a must penalty. So what can you do?

“I do know that the officials were in contact to say that it was a penalty so what do you do? We were told it was a penalty within seconds.

"And then afterwards again. It was communicated to the referee at the time. It probably would have been unfair on Waterford, though. Overall, they were deserved winners.”

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