Limerick Star Gives Insight Into Why Scoreboard Error Was Such A Disaster For Kilkenny

While there is no doubting that Tipperary were fully deserving of their victory over Kilkenny on Sunday, the error with the scoreboard in the closing minutes of the game is something that will not have gone down well with the Leinster champions.

Kilkenny spent the majority of injury time chasing a goal, believing that they were three points down. However, it would be confirmed after the game that they actually trailed by just two points during this period.

The Cats turned down relatively straightforward chances for a point on a couple of occasions, meaning the outcome of the game might have been different had they been aware of the correct score.

READ ALSO: Kilkenny Also Benefitted From Officiating Error As Paddy Deegan 'Blessed Not To Walk'

READ ALSO: Viewers Noted One Key Difference In Sunday Game's Coverage Of Scoreboard Gaffe

While it has yet to be confirmed by the GAA whether referee James Owens was aware of the correct score during this period, that is something that is unlikely to have helped Kilkenny in any case.

Speaking on The GAA Social, Limerick star Seamus Flanagan explained why the Croke Park scoreboard is the only indication of the score that players can go by.

100 percent (the scoreboard is what the players go by), because you don't have time. The referee is so far away that you can't talk to them, you can't shout to them.

That's the only way you're going to know the score.

I know Seamus Callanan was behind me (in the stands) and he said 'that scoreboard is wrong', that it should have been three points.

You're pushing for that goal at that stage, because you're thinking it's the only thing that is going to get us back into the match.

Whereas if you have two points, all of a sudden it's a one point game. Then for Tipp the nerves start to kick on, Kilkenny are pushing and in the ascendancy.

It has a massive bearing on the game, it really does.

You certainly get the sense that Kilkenny likely would have approached the final minutes of this game in a different manner had they known that they trailed by just two points.

Of course, there is no guarantee that the outcome would have been any different. Tipperary themselves dropped deep in order to defend against possible goal chances, meaning Kilkenny would not have had such easy point-scoring opportunities had they known the correct scoreline.

In any case, this is a situation that could have easily been avoided.