Kilkenny manager Ann Downey shared her frustrations about the refereeing performance of Ray Kelly despite seeing her side win the Littlewoods Camogie League Division 1 title.
The Cats got off to a blistering start as they survived a second half revival by Cork to claim silverware at Nowlan Park.
But Downey could not hide her disappointment in referee Kelly.
“I just felt that Ray felt he should bring Cork back into it with some of the frees that were given,” Downey told OTB’s Oisin Langan.
“And it was the same in the second half. I think if you look back at the video, certainly the goal they got was an over carry.
“I think camogie has to look at that and see what’s happening. I was disappointed with Ray today and there’s no point in me saying otherwise, I was.”
As well as her frustrations with the referee, Downey also expressed the need for her side to improve in the coming months.
“Coming into today we knew we hadn’t a lot of work done and that we would have to be at our best to beat Cork,” Downey added.
“In the second half they proved the great team that they are. We had a great start, we were 11 points to one up at one stage, and I suppose we lost our way.
“We haven’t really been on any of the pitches. We’ve had about three grass training sessions with the way the weather has been.
“That performance won’t win us an All-Ireland but we know we have a lot work to do.
“When we came out for the second half, I couldn’t believe how much the breeze was after [picking up]. The wind never wins any match for you.
“But it was how Cork decided they didn’t do themselves justice in the first half and they threw off the shackles, and we had difficulty dealing with that.
“But I thought our girls hooked and blocked and harried as much as they could. And, to be honest, one or two decisions – especially in the first half – went against us.”
Written by James Hopper
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