John Cleary says he has no option but to instruct his Cork team to foul to see out matches after receiving no clarity on the controversial climax of their Allianz Football League Division 2 final against Meath.
The Rebels got the ball back with 20 seconds left before the hooter. As they scrambled to get the kick-out away and work the play into a scoring zone, Maurice Shanley was fouled and then pulled to the ground by James Conlon.
The Meathman was black-carded, but referee Brendan Griffin opted not to advance the free 50 metres for delaying the play. "All you'll do is foul, foul, foul. That's what we'd be instructing our team to do: foul. They can't get it up then in 20-25 seconds," said Cleary.
On the day, the Cork boss was told that the referee was playing advantage, which meant the 50-metre advancement rule didn't apply. "I was trying to make enquiries the following day because it could come up again. I'm still of the opinion that Maurice Shanley was fouled, the whistle went, he went up, and he was pulled back," said Cleary.
"The player got a black card, but there was no advancement. I'm still a bit puzzled by it. I think (Football Review Committee member) Éamonn Fitzmaurice wrote in the Examiner that it should have been a 50-metre advancement.
"Other people on The Sunday Game said it shouldn't. I'm sure there are a lot of teams around the country a bit peeved with last-minute decisions. You had the Barrs, you had Sallins, it was brought up and they lost the game. It certainly hasn't been clarified."
"There's a bit of an anti-climax at the end of games now"
Last year, play was allowed to continue after the hooter until the ball was kicked dead.
In the All-Ireland final first half, Kerry and Donegal were locked in a stalemate until the hooter sounded before engaging for the final play. That stand-off sparked a rule change, which Cleary feels was ill-judged.
"I still think the old rule was better to finish out the game. There were fierce exciting finishes. People talked about Kerry last year, but I thought it was the most intriguing bit of play the whole year. They were waiting and waiting. Kerry knew what was happening, Donegal knew what was happening, and yet, to me, it was a fantastic end to a half.
"So what that you had to wait two and a half minutes for it. It was intriguing and it was great to watch.
"There's a bit of an anti-climax at the end of games now. Instead of it being positive, there's a negative. People go away after the game feeling that it finished on a negative, whereas if the team was still going (to complete their attack), at least the defending team would be on a big high and a better positive than seeing it out that way."
Cleary has been drilling Cork to improve their ability to break a kick-out press, which cost them the lead in that final.
"Kerry lost seven (kick-outs) on the spin and Donegal got 10 points, so it's not alone on us that it's happening," said Cleary. "You try to have a plan, but a lot depends on the opposition. When they push up, and when they get momentum, how do you break that?
"That's something we have been working on, and hopefully it will be better going forward."
Cork host Limerick in their Munster opener for the third consecutive season this Sunday.
"The last two years, they have been very, very good at times against us," said Cleary.
"Two years ago, we were a point down at half-time. Last year, they lost a man before the break. It was only in the last 10-15 minutes that we got on top.
"We know from playing Limerick over the last number of years, they raise their game against Cork all the time. They would always feel that they have a chance of beating Cork. All we can do now is prepare ourselves.
"If we're not on the ball, we know we're in for a hell of a battle on Sunday."
Watch the Camogie League finals, Clare v Dublin (12.15pm) and Waterford v Galway (2.15pm) on Sunday from 12pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow our live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and RTÉ News app and listen to Sunday Sport from 2pm on RTÉ Radio 1
Watch Armagh v Tyrone in the Ulster Football Championship on Sunday from 4pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow our live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and RTÉ News app and listen to Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
Watch The Sunday Game from 9.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on all matches on the RTÉ News app and on rte.ie/sport. Listen to Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
