Donal Óg Cusack Feels Controversial Dublin-Limerick Incident Made Mockery Of Hurling Rule

Dublin produced one of the biggest upsets in recent hurling championship history yesterday, overcoming Limerick after a thrilling All-Ireland quarter-final in Croke Park.

Everybody expected the Munster county to comfortable win this fixture, with John Kiely's men still viewed by many as the favourites to life the Liam MacCarthy later this summer. The result looked even more certain when Dublin would have a man sent off in the first half, meaning they played the majority of the contest with just 14 players.

Despite this, they would power through to produce one of the all-time great championship upsets. Two quick-fire goals just after the 50 minute mark would prove to be the decisive period in the game.

Dublin would go on to run out as winners on a scoreline of 2-24 to 0-28.

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While there is no doubt that Dublin were deserving winners in this game, there was more than a hint of controversy about a decision that went their way in the dying moments of the match.

It came when Limerick's Cathal O'Neill looked to be through on goal in the last couple of minutes, only to be hauled down by an opposition defender.

It looked like a clearcut black card incident, something that would have resulted in a penalty being given to Limerick. Of course, that would have put them in position to take the lead late on. A free was awarded instead, much to the confusion of Donal Óg Cusack.

Speaking on RTÉ, the former Cork star said that this incident made a mockery of hurling's black card rule.

You just ask, what's the black card about? Why was it brought in?

Dublin on one of the few occasions lost their men. We talked a lot about the tackles before the game, there was no question here.

You see here, Cathal O'Neill just loses his man. Dublin get drawn in. One of the mistakes that Burke made during the day, he wasn't conscious of what was behind him, Lynch doing what Lynch does so well and picks him. Then Dublin are scrambling to make the cover.

No question, it should have been a black card. It's the second time we have said it, why was the rule brought in at all then?

The black card has become somewhat of a forgotten law in inter-county hurling, with quite a few cynical incidents going unpunished in recent times.

While Dublin were deserving winners in this game, they can count themselves fortunate to get away with this one.