1967 Infamous penalty incident always recalled when Donegal play Galway

The headline in the 'Democrat' read: Strange penalty decision robbed Donegal and saved champions.

The decision by Wicklow referee, Eamonn Moules, in the 1967 National League semi-final between Donegal and Galway will always be recalled when the counties meet.

The Democrat report on the incident read:

The incident occurred in the 25th minute of the first half when Donegal were leading 2-1 to  0-4. Michael McLoone had cut through and found Des Houlihan, who although hauled to the ground finished the ball to the Galway net. The referee, 60 yards outfield, raced in, consulted his umpires, disallowed the goal but awarded a penalty instead. He placed the ball and Gweedore's Neilly Gallagher squared up to take the kick.

Then referee  Moules stopped him, placed the ball again, and gesticulated, walking towards the Galway goal, where stood the lone Johnny Geraghty, who had already been beaten twice by Donegal shots.

At this stage, the wind took the ball with it and curled it in to 13 yards from the Galway goal (the penalty rule states very definitely that the ball must be on the 14 yards line). Gallagher lifted the wind-rolled ball and put it back on the 14 yards line again and then referee Moules, who had already denied Donegal the goal they had scored, gave a free out against them.

One wonders if the wind had been blowing the other way and if it had taken the ball 30 or 40 yards out, what would referee Moules' decision have been. He may have felt justified in making it and he certainly made history of a kind by doing so. Perhaps his interpretation of the rule was that although the ball was illegally placed by the wind, the player should not have replaced it once he had blown the whistle. Whatever his reasoning may have been, it was a decision that cost Donegal the game, and from £6,00 to  £10,00 as well.

Donegal led by 2-3 to 0-5 at half-time. A goal  from full-forward Frank Canavan in the 45th minute saved Galway, who were reigning All-Ireland champions at the time. In the end Donegal were only able to add one second half point and lost by the minimum, 2-4 to 1-10.

But it will always be remembered for the Neilly Gallagher penalty incident.

Donegal: Seamus Hoare; John Hannigan, Bernard Brady (capt), Paul Kelly; Brendan Dowling, PJ Flood, Anton Carroll; Frankie McFeely, Declan O'Carroll; Des Houlihan, Sean Ferriter, Neilly Gallagher; Michael McLoone, Sean O'Donnell, Jim Quigley. Sub: Seamie Granaghan for Houlihan.

Galway: Johnny Geraghty; Enda Colleran (capt), Noel Tierney, John Bosco McDermott; John Donnellan, Sean Meade, Coilin McDonagh; Jimmy Duggan, Pat Donnellan; Cyril Dunne, Mattie McDonagh, Seamus Leydon; Liam Sammon, Frank Canavan, John Keenan. Subs: Martin Newell for McDonagh; Mick Reynolds for Sammon.

Referee: Eamonn Moules (Wicklow)