Kevin McStay takes issue with David Clifford frees in Kerry victory over Mayo
Mayo manager Kevin McStay said Kerry's David Clifford is "so clever at making sure the picture the referee sees is an excellent picture for him". Pic: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile
Mayo boss Kevin McStay questioned some of the refereeing decisions that were made during their six-point Division 1 final loss against Kerry, particularly those that involved two-time Footballer of the Year David Clifford.
Kerry cruised to a 1-18 to 1-12 victory in Croke Park. McStay acknowledged his side were well off the pace throughout, but did point to the free count and a David Clifford tackle on goalkeeper Colm Reape as frustrations.
Reape was replaced in the second half by Adrian Phillips. The goalkeeper was on the receiving end of a heavy hit after collecting possession close to his goal.
“I thought we were a good tackling team the last time I checked,” said McStay.
“I was a little bit disappointed with that. There was some very judicious tackling made on turnover ball, we would argue. David's one on our keeper, being one of them as he's breaking out, he's just taken out of the game. That's as cynical as you can get in my view. But that's tipping at straws at that stage.”
Clifford finished with eight points, four from play as well as five wides and one saved goal opportunity.
“When you give that list, I’m at the same time thinking, Donnacha (McHugh) gave him a good shot. He is a fabulous player, we will all agree on that but if you see the camera angles I will look at Monday and Tuesday from behind, he is so clever at making sure the picture the referee sees is an excellent picture for him.
“He can’t always be out in front. Nature doesn’t allow that. He can’t be out in front for every ball. I think Donnacha was excellent on him, gave him a really good shot but, I want to be careful, I really like him as a player. I think he is a fabulous player in the game but I thought today he got well looked after.
“I have to say, I love him as a player and all that, but Donnacha’s jersey must be resistant to pulling all together, I don't know. That would be my one and I think David Coldrick is obviously a fabulous referee too, but the tackle count, I think it was 13-1 at one stage.
“I thought we could tackle, that was the last time I checked, we're a good tackling team. So that's something, maybe we'll have to work on that too and tidy it up, maybe we're not presenting good pictures to the refs of our tackle.
“I've said that about David now and you're all going to jump off, that's not what I'm saying. I have huge respect for him, but it has to be a two-way street when these big battles are, he's six foot two or three. Come on, is it a man's game?”
Ahead of their Connacht championship opener against Sligo next week, one obvious area of improvement for Mayo is their use of possession. They coughed up countless cheap ball.
“We are way, way better than that. We pride ourselves in brilliant basics. We're able to do it in training. But the pressure of bringing it on to a bigger stage hurts every team.
“We have to get better at it. We will get better at it, I've no doubt. We have three competitions left for the season.”
