Kilkenny GAA Chairman speaks out about ‘extreme frustration' over scoreboard error in Tipperary defeat

The Irish Sun

30-07-2025

THE Kilkenny GAA chairman PJ Kenny has spoken out on Noel McGrath's ghost point against the Cats.
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It was McGrath's 70th minute shot that caused the controversy
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Kilkenny have failed to reach the All-Ireland final for the second year in-a-row
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PJ Kenny has been the Kilkenny GAA chairman for a number of years now
McGrath had taken a shot from near the Cusack stand sideline which was
However, the Croke Park scoreboard operator had added the wide as a point to Tipp on the in-stadium scoreboard, extending their supposed lead from two points to three points which
With four minutes of added time left to play after the incident the Cats had been shooting for goals rather than points due to believing they were three points down when they were in fact trailing by just two points.
There had been radio silence from the Kilkenny county board and players following the match until yesterday when Kenny appeared on local radio station
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Speaking three weeks after the incident, the Kilkenny chairman said: 'There was communication that evening after the match.
"There was extreme frustration from the players, management, and county board, and all the fans, as well, who paid to go to the match.
'There was deep frustration, we were in talks with Croke Park from the very start of that evening. We knew it was never going to a replay. There's no rule that allows for that, and we were told that fairly straightaway.
'We talked to them, but we didn't want it broadcast all over the front pages. We did talk to Croke Park regularly on the Sunday and Monday and we looked for an explanation."
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Kenny - who was ratified as chairperson back in January - hadn't pushed the issue to the media yet as he did not want to kick up a fuss before the All-Ireland final.
A media meltdown would have taken away from the occasion between Cork and Tipperary and that was something Kenny did not want to do.
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Kenny added: 'We were also conscious as well that Tipperary and Cork were in the All-Ireland final and there was no point in taking away from their day.
'There was nothing to be gained from it that way, but we were in talks, Croke Park took full responsibility, they wrote a letter which we actually read out at the county board meeting the Monday after.
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'They took full responsibility and issued an apology, particularly they felt for the players and management.
"They are the people who put in the most effort, so it wasn't an easy time. There's nothing we could do. They said they are putting procedures in place.
'All I can say is Tipperary won the All-Ireland and they were well worthy. Congratulations to them. It was disappointing for us, but there's nothing much we can do now.'
Kenny suggested a change to the rules and also promised to put pressure on the GAA in the future to ensure an incident like this does not occur again in the future.
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'In Croke Park, there is about six people on the sideline there, the referee's report had the score in at 4-20 to 0-30 and we were sent on a copy of that, so immediately that's the score you go by.
'Just human error was basically the cause; whoever was on the scoreboard put up that extra point.
'Maybe I think when you have HawkEye you should be able to link it all in and be able to check for scores straight away, I don't know how they can't stop play.
'They say they're looking at procedures and we will enquire about them going forward, we won't just let that go. We need to so that it won't happen again, because it is was a very stressful time.'
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'When you're a player and you're chasing a lead, it does affect your decision-making.
'The players were kept in touch. Credit to the players, they didn't go out on the media either, looking to make a story either. They are the most important people in this.'