Mark Coleman: James Owens didn't tell us ball had to go dead but it's not up to him to do so

In the wake of Cork’s defeat to Limerick in Sunday’s Munster final, one of Ben O’Connor’s main issues was the fact that referee James Owens did not make clear that the 77th-minute free awarded to the Rebels was to be the last action.

Down a point but so far from goal and playing into a fierce wind, goalkeeper Patrick Collins went short to Mark Coleman, who in turn found Tim O’Mahony but, by the time his shot landed short, proceedings had drawn to a close and Limerick were the champions again.

Speaking at the launch of this year’s All-Ireland SHC at his native Blarney GAA Club, Coleman confirmed that no clear indication was given by the Wexford official – but, equally, he feels Cork were not necessarily entitled to know that.

“Tim probably would have hit it,” Coleman says, “only he got a bit of a knock or he was winded or something, then Pa came up to hit it.

“We obviously weren't aware that it was the last puck of the game at the time, but with the wind that was there, Pa probably wouldn't have had the distance for it so we were trying to just increase our probability of scoring by going short.

“Obviously, if we'd have known it was the last puck of the game, we would have shot. But we weren't aware at the time.”

Would a referee normally indicate the situation?

“The honest answer is I don't know,” Coleman said.

“I just said to James Owens afterwards that I wasn't aware it was the last puck of the game and he said it's not up to him to be telling you it's the last puck of the game.”

While Owens might have a reputation for not being talkative to players, Coleman – stand-in captain with Darragh Fitzgibbon out – had no other problems with the communication.

“Probably before [in terms of Owens’ interactions with players],” he said, “but to be fair, I must say the last day that I had a few conversations with him during the game.

“He was fine the last day. But it's not up to him to be talking to players, really. Some refs have their own style but I have no issue with James Owens at all. I think if you were to go by the letter of the law, he probably had a good game.

“We just have to just accept that we were beaten by a better team. I'm not going to sit here blaming James Owens for anything. I think he's probably right.

“It's probably not up to him to tell me that this has to be the last puck of the game. He blows the whistle when he feels the time is up and that's it.”

For Cork, there is little time to wallow with an All-Ireland quarter-final against Offaly fast approaching. It’s the way Coleman would prefer to have things.

“We don't have much time to be dwelling on it now,” he said.

“It's straight back into training and getting ready for the quarter-final. I haven't watched it back yet but just off my own thoughts, we probably just didn't do enough in the second half to get over the line.

“You have to be scoring a bit more to be beating Limerick especially. Obviously, it was difficult conditions but you still want to be getting a few more scores on the board. “Ultimately, the better team won.”

It need not be fatal, though, and many expect the sides to meet again in the All-Ireland final. Aside from last year’s round-robin game in Limerick, which the hosts won by 16 points, most meetings have been close – can Coleman put his finger on why?

“I don't know,” he said, “I think we're just pretty evenly-matched teams.

“They've obviously been the best team in the country over the last ten years and we've put a lot of work into trying to get up to that level. I think we just match up well.

“It probably took us a while to physically get up to their level. Even watching back old games, you see fellas' body shape has changed so much to be able to compete with them.

“That's probably why we've gotten a bit closer over the last few years."