Rob Finnerty: Goalkeepers cutting value of two-pointer by touching ball 'a bit crazy'

Irish Examiner

08-05-2025

Galway attacker Rob Finnerty reckons it's 'a bit crazy' that goalkeepers can cut the value of a two-pointer in half by simply getting a touch to the ball.
Galway benefited from the directive in the Connacht final when goalkeeper Connor Gleeson got his hand to a long-range kick from Mayo's Ryan O'Donoghue which still went over.
There was controversy at the time as TV replays suggested that the ball had already gone beyond the crossbar when Gleeson got his touch.
Either way, Finnerty isn't a fan of the directive that a goalkeeper can have such an influence on the scoring system, agreeing that it is a weird rule.
"It is, it's a strange rule," he said. "Because it obviously halves the reward which I think is probably a bit crazy. If you can get the ball over from 50 or 45 metres, I don't see why you wouldn't get the reward of the two points. Obviously it worked in our favour at the weekend so we'll take it.
"Connor has done that in a few games now. It's obviously something he's been looking at and he's done it well so fair play to him."
Galway won by just two points in the end, clinching an historic four-in-a-row of Connacht titles and their place in a devilishly difficult All-Ireland SFC group alongside Dublin, Derry and All-Ireland champions Armagh or Donegal.
First up for Galway will be a home date with Dublin in Salthill on Saturday week.
It remains to be seen if star attackers Shane Walsh and Damien Comer are fit for duty having both missed the provincial decider.
"I'm actually not sure, I'd say it mightn't be too far away," said Finnerty of his colleagues' returns. "But I'm not sure will they make that Dublin game."
It has been confirmed that the 5pm encounter will form part of a double header with the county's hurlers facing Antrim beforehand at 2.30pm.
"That'll only add to the occasion and hopefully as many Galway people as possible can get down to it," said Finnerty, who plays for the local Salthill-Knocknacarra club.
One thing Finnerty isn't a fan of is holding the draw for the All-Ireland SFC before the provincial finals, potentially shifting the players' focus from the job at hand.
"Obviously it wasn't ideal that they did do the draw beforehand," he said. "It doesn't really make much sense in my eyes, knowing where you're going to be and who you're facing. I think we did a good job of just staying focused on Mayo and on winning a Connacht championship.
"Even do it this weekend after the Ulster and Leinster finals, that probably would be an ideal thing, just do it on TV after the game or whatever. That would be my opinion on it."
*Rob Finnerty was speaking at the launch of Harvey Norman's new GAA sponsorships, including Hawk-Eye and Camogie Stats partnerships.