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Jackie Tyrrell & Donal Óg Cusack Clash Over Controversial Galway Red Card Vs Dublin

Jackie Tyrrell & Donal Óg Cusack Clash Over Controversial Galway Red Card Vs Dublin
Gary Connaughton
By Gary Connaughton
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Things were always likely to get heated in the Leinster hurling clash between Galway and Dublin, although a red card given during the first half of the match would also lead to a testy exchange in the RTÉ studio.

Both sides entered this game knowing that a victory would be enough to advance from the Leinster round robin, while a defeat could also end the championship interest of either county.

Galway started the better of the two teams, racking up nine points inside the first 15 minutes. They were aided in their efforts by the benefit of a strong breeze at their backs.

Just as the home side looked to be taking control in the game, they would be reduced to 14 men due to a sending off.

David Burke was the player that got his marching orders, with referee Colm Lyons adjudging that his shoulder on Fergal Whitely was worthy of a straight red card.

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While the hit was a heavy one, the call did has proven to be a controversial one.

READ HERE: Davy Fitzgerald Claps Back At Criticism He Received For Referee Confrontation

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RTÉ pundits clash over Galway red card vs Dublin

RTÉ commentator Michael Duignan suggested at the time that the red card was an incredibly harsh one, but opinion was split in the studio at halftime.

Speaking on RTÉ, Jackie Tyrrell and Donal Óg Cusack would clash over the decision to send off Burke. Tyrrell felt it was not a red card, but his colleague felt it was the right call. It led to some disagreement on the broadcast.

Tyrrell: For me, it wasn't a red card. The optics doesn't look great for David Burke, the fact that his eyes stay on the player is not a good look for him. But for me it's a yellow card, it's a body check...

Cusack: It looks harsh in the context of the game, but when you do slow it down and you look at his eyes, David Burke is an experienced man and he is asking for trouble. He is giving the opportunity to the referee and the linesman to give him the red.

Tyrrell: Whether you're asking for trouble or not, it's not a red card. The letter of the law, for me, says this is not a sending off. That's not dangerous play for me...

That's a shoulder to the body. Fergal Whitely definitely leans into him and makes the most of it. I don't see any red card in that, I feel it's harsh.

Cusack: There's no player that wants to see a fella getting sent off. That's a shoulder to the head.

Tyrrell: I don't see it at all.

Cusack: I didn't interrupt you there now, boy. The pictures are showing that, it's as simple as that. Also, it's a huge factor when he keeps his eyes on the player. There is a way bigger focus on this, the game has changed over the last decade.

Referees are clamping down on this, and for a lot of right reasons that they're clamping down on cheap shoulders to the chest. There's nothing tough about giving cheap shoulders to the chest to another players that's going out to do their best.

Tyrrell: Why do you think it's harsh then?

Cusack: Because in the context of the game, because it's not an out and out going to try and take him out. But he's asking for trouble is my point.

It's fair to see that the two pundits did not see eye to eye on this occasion.

The decision has certainly split opinion, although as Donal Óg Cusack points out, a player is asking for trouble when they produce hits such as this one on the hurling pitch.

SEE ALSO: Roscommon Manager Fires Shots Over Decision To Play Dublin Game In Croke Park

 

 

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