Joe Canning Explains Why Tipp Man 'Saved The GAA' With Late Kilkenny Intervention

While yesterday's All-Ireland semi-final between Tipperary and Kilkenny may have been a wonderful game of hurling, the post-match conversation has been dominated by a scorekeeping error late in the contest.

The scoreboard in Croke Park and on television was not tallied properly heading into injury time, with it stating that Tipperary led by three points instead of two points. The result of that was Kilkenny repeatedly going for goal in the closing moments, when they may have opted for points had the deficit been smaller.

It seems as though the confusion stemmed from a Noel McGrath just just before additional time. The umpire would wave the effort wide, but a point would be added to the scoreboard soon after.

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The fallout from yesterday's incident has rumbled on in recent hours, and while it remains to be seen what will come of it, the GAA could have had an even bigger headache to contend with if one passage of play late in the match turned out slightly differently.

Tipperary defender Robert Doyle would produce a heroic block in the dying moments of the contest, stopping what looked like a certain Kilkenny goal.

Full-time: Kilkenny 0-30 Tipperary 4-20 - It's Tipperary who will take on Cork in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final after late drama where Robert Doyle makes a last-ditch save on the line to deny John Donnelly. pic.twitter.com/ygeYvkm4Fd

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It was thought at the time that this goal would have levelled the game. Of course, as we now know, it would have actually put Kilkenny one point ahead.

This could have led to a major conundrum for the GAA.

Speaking on The Sunday Game, Joe Canning joked that Doyle 'saved' the association by making that last ditch intervention.

Psychologically, it makes a big difference to the players when you're chasing three or four points instead of two points. It's different.

You kind of panic a bit when it gets into the red, trying to chase the game and get a goal. Route one is what most lads do, very little teams go through the lines...

He's lucky, because if they got that goal at the end of the match, Kilkenny would have won by the referee.

They would have been a point up, but everyone in the stadium would have thought it was a draw match.

He saved the GAA I'd say.

This situation certainly would have been far more complicated has Kilkenny managed to score a late goal against Tipperary.

Still, it remains to be seen what action the GAA will take in light of yesterday's error.