Fitzmaurice Admits Kerry Were Hugely Fortunate With Pivotal Call v Tyrone

Kerry are through to the All-Ireland semi-finals after an epic last-eight win over Tyrone at Croke Park on Saturday afternoon.

The Kingdom entered Saturday's clash in excellent shape after their commanding win over Armagh last weekend, but Armagh's Ulster neighbours posed a far tougher challenge at GAA HQ.

Tyrone led approaching the 20-minute mark, before a moment of David Clifford magic sparked Kerry's attack into life.

Tyrone started brilliantly but David Clifford is inevitable, 1-3 after 19 minutes. pic.twitter.com/wD0Ld6uk5J

— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) June 27, 2026

Owen Mulligan went against the grain on GAA+, claiming the Tyrone defence should have done more.

However, this was a game laden with quality, and the introduction of Darren McCurry off the bench in the second half had a similarly inspirational impact for them as Clifford's goal had for Kerry in the first.

McCurry was electric in attack, scoring 0-10 in the second half as Tyrone stayed within a score of Kerry right down the home straight.

That gap was finally broken with the final kick of the game, as Kerry finished the job with another goal defined by the brilliance of David Clifford, finished off by Armin Heinrich.

Kerry came through a serious battle on Saturday evening, and Éamonn Fitzmaurice felt they may have gotten the benefit of a few questionable decisions against Tyrone.

One pivotal moment of Saturday's quarter-final came in the 45th minute, when Dylan O'Connor claimed a brilliant mark from Shane Murphy's kick-out.

As O'Connor moved to take the mark quickly, he collided with the fast-moving Conn Kilpatrick, with the Tyrone man appearing to trip O'Connor.

I can’t understand these two calls. The first one brought up for a two-point free that David Clifford kicked. The second one not and given McCurry’s day, you’d back him. Massive calls pic.twitter.com/ricgNF1dkT

— Cahair O'Kane (@CahairOKane1) June 27, 2026

Whether it was an intentional trip or not was up for debate, as O'Connor moved into Kilpatrick's path very quickly. Still, the referee chose to advance the free forward 50 metres for delaying the resumption of play.

David Clifford subsequently slotted over the free to put Kerry five points clear.

Regardless of it being a harsh call, the GAA's official rulebook also only describes potential punishments for delaying the taking of a free-kick or sideline, with no mention of a mark.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio One, Éamonn Fitzmaurice questioned whether the right call had been made.

"I think there will be one talking point," Fitzmaurice said.

It happened at a crucial stage of the game, the time Sean O'Brien won the mark and it was brought forward.

Again, my brain is frazzled at this stage but to the best of my knowledge i dont think a mark is supposed to be brought forward if it's interfered with. That came forward for David's two-pointer at a critical stage of the game.

That'll probably be a talking point afterwards.

The Kerryman also highlighted that it was not the only instance which saw his county get the rub of the green.

Such a game of fine margins, today Kerry did a couple of tight calls that often times you need to win such a tight game.

But hugely positive going for them going forward, it certainly has exposed for them some possible deficiencies - their defensive set-up and how they're going to have to defend in Croke Park from now on against teams that can kick two-pointers in particular.

Fitzmaurice is, of course, one of the most prominent members of the Football Review Committee who masterminded the new look of Gaelic football.

For him to be questioning the decision suggests that Tyrone were indeed hard done by at a pivotal moment in the game.

The Red Hand can hold their heads high, though, after a spirited performance that saw them run the All-Ireland champions close.

In Saturday's earlier quarter-final, some Kobe McDonald magic helped Mayo to their first All-Ireland semi-final in five years with a five-point victory over Cork.