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O'Rourke frustrated by 'really, really harsh calls'

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June 27, 2026

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O'Rourke frustrated by 'really, really harsh calls'

Published27 June 2026

Tyrone manager Malachy O'Rourke feels some of the calls against his side in their 2-25 to 0-27 All-Ireland SFC quarter-final defeat by Kerry were "really, really harsh."

The Red Hands fell agonisingly short of booking their spot in the semi-finals after an impressive second-half display.

During the thrilling match in Dublin, Tyrone felt a few key decisions at big moments went in favour of the All-Ireland champions.

"We felt that some of the calls that went against us were really, really harsh," O'Rourke told BBC Sport NI.

"Maybe it'll look different on the video and we'll look at it but those marginal calls were really hard on us and at one stage the Kerry boys even stopped playing because it seemed so blatant to us.

"So, it was really hard to take in such a tight game that that happened and I'm not here to blame referees or officials or anything else but at the same time to us we seemed to get a very, very hard deal out there. Maybe I'm wrong."

O'Rourke praises his side's performance in tight second half

Tyrone were heavy underdogs coming into the contest against the side aiming to defend their title.

However, the performance of his players did not come as a surprise to the Red Hands boss.

"It's probably not that much compensation at this stage as we always expect ourselves to come up and put in a big performance," he continued.

"I thought in fairness in the first half we were a bit off. They won too many kick outs and when you give Kerry possessions they'll usually end up in an attack and, more often than not, they'll score.

"So that was the thing that we had to be better on the second half and just in general I just felt all over the field we had to just show more urgency. We did that and it was just disappointing we didn't get anything out of it."

Tyrone were without the services of both Canavan brothers, Ruairi and Darragh, due to injury and, in a game of such fine margins, the impact of both or either player could have helped the Red Hands over the line.

"We weren't picking from a full panel and obviously someone like Darragh or Ruairi there coming in there to freshen up the forward line would be a massive bonus.

"They weren't fit to play. Long term injuries and major injuries so that was a hand we were dealt."