Kilkenny considering their options after confusion over final score

Kenneth Fox

Kilkenny were discussing their options on Sunday night after the GAA clarified the final scoreline in Croke Park and RTÉ was incorrect.

Croke Park clarified the correct scoreline as Tipperary 4-20 Kilkenny 0-30 in the second of the All-Ireland SHC semi-finals.

After Oisín O’Donoghue’s 69th-minute goal put Tipperary three points ahead, 4-20 to 0-29, a Noel McGrath point effort was waved wide by an umpire. However, it was recorded as a point on the scoreboard.

Following Jordan Molloy’s point in the second minute of additional time to bring Kilkenny’s total to 30, both managers Derek Lyng and Liam Cahill were of the understanding that the margin was three points when it was in fact two. “I had three, I thought it was three,” said Lyng afterwards.

Kilkenny chased a goal in the dying stages when in fact they could have aimed for points to force extra-time — John Donnelly had a goal attempt denied by Robert Doyle on the goal-line.

In the immediate aftermath of the game, GAA sources stated afterwards that the scoreline was 4-21 to 0-30 in Tipperary’s favour. However, the GAA later corrected it and gave one point fewer to the winning side.

The Association said they are waiting on referee James Owens’ report to ascertain exactly where the confusion arose. A statement on the GAA website read: "The GAA can confirm that the official score at the end of the Tipperary v Kilkenny GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Semi-Final was 4-20 to 0-30.

“The GAA acknowledges there was confusion over the final score. The CCCC (Central Competitions Control Committee) is awaiting the full referee’s report in order to establish how the initial mistake occurred."

This is the second time in two years that a scoreline error has been made in Croke Park.

In the 2023 Joe McDonagh Cup final, Carlow beat Offaly after extra-time by a point. Referee Thomas Walsh reported the score as 2-29 to 1-31 as did the stadium scoreboards when in fact it was 2-30 to 1-32. The incorrect score was adopted into the records. Broadcasters RTÉ updated their totals to reflect the right scoreline.

In 2016, a re-match was ordered for the Christy Ring Cup final between Meath and Antrim in Croke Park after it was miscalculated that Meath had won the game by a point (2-18 to 1-20). It materialised soon after that the actual scoreline was 2-17 to 1-20 yet Meath were awarded the trophy.

Antrim requested a second game, which was granted, but Meath won it by a point, 4-21 to 5-17.