Semi-final Controversy
The All-Ireland semi-final replay between Clare and Offaly ended in controversy and disarray when the referee, Jimmy Cooney, mistakenly ended the game five minutes earlier than he had intended. Clare were three points up, 1-16 to 2-10 at this point. When the whistle blew there was disarray in Croke Park as the disgruntled Offaly supporters began a sit-down protest on the pitch. A Kildare v. Kerry IHC game planned for afterwards had to be cancelled.
Clare manager Ger Loughnane was adamant that the result should stand as the referee's word should be deemed final. However as the game hadn't been completed to 70 minutes, the Gaelic Athletic Association had to re-fix the semi final replay. In the re-fixture in Thurles 6 days later, the result was reversed with Offaly winning the game on a score of 0-16 to 0-13.
Read more about this topic: All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1998
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