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2nd August 2017
04:01pm BST

Fans, at Croke Park and at home, probably missed out on something that occurred during the All-Ireland football qualifier. It involved referee Derek O'Mahony and it was incredible given the greasy conditions underfoot and on a surface that had a huge section relaid after U2 and Coldplay gigs.
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Credit: RTE[/caption]
Conan Doherty was at the match for SportsJOE and he expressed is abhorrence of O'Mahony footwear during The GAA Hour: Football Show [from 44:00 below].
https://soundcloud.com/sportsjoe-gaa-hour/kerry-challenge-game-brilliant-rossies-and-thingsleedid
An incredulous Doherty commented:
"The boy in the Armagh game didn't even have studs on. You can't referee at inter-county level if you're not going to bring football boots to Croke Park. "I saw him running around; he might as well have been wearing loafers. "I went onto Inpho Photography, just to check, and he's wearing a pair of Asics trainers. I mean, come on! This is top level sports and the boy can't bring a pair of football boots."
It would hardly inspire a team with confidence when they show up at Croke Park for the biggest game of the reason and the man in the middle was wearing a pair of runners.
The Tipperary referee was not the only official that went into last weekend's action without a proper pair of football boots - Joe McQuillan did likewise in the drawn quarter final match between Roscommon and Mayo.
Blades or moulded studs would suffice if O'Mahony or McQuillan did not want to go for full football studs but a decent pair of boots should be the requirement for such a showpiece occasion.Explore more on these topics: