City rivals set to face wrath of board

A free-for-all involving both teams and subs, precipitated by the dismissal of Cork captain Patrick Horgan and his direct opponent Colm O’Driscoll after six minutes, is certain to have repercussions for Glen Rovers and Bishopstown after a stormy fourth round Cork SHC game in Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday which eventually finished 13-a-side.

Referee Cathal McAllister red-carded the two players when each had their helmet forcibly removed after a tussle off the ball. Trouble flared outfield while he dealt with it and quickly spread to the sideline in front of the Bishopstown dugout. The understanding is that it was sparked by the action of a Bishopstown official shaking O’Driscoll’s hand as he reached the area and a hostile intervention from a Glen Rovers mentor who was subsequently ordered from the field.

It lasted about four minutes and, after consulting with his officials, McAllister issued yellow cards to a player from each side, Bishopstown’s Mark Driscoll and the Glen’s Donal Cronin. When play resumed after a delay of seven minutes, Driscoll had the misfortune to receive a second yellow for a late challenge. Cronin was to suffer a similar fate 12 minutes from the end, at a stage when Glen Rovers were guaranteed a meeting with Ballymartle.

Glen Rovers selector Des Cullinane and the Bishopstown manager Pádraig O’Donoghue both expressed regret about what had happened afterwards. But Cullinane, the former UCC football coach (and Cork’s Central Council delegate), raised suspicions about the circumstances of Horgan’s red-carding.

“Cathal said he sent him off for a face mask violation. Obviously there was a reason why there was a face mask violation... You’d wonder why our best player, whom we’d expect to score 10 or 12 points, would be getting involved in that.”

Commenting that “he had been bursting” to play and was “bitterly disappointed by what happened,” he said it was obvious he would be a huge loss going forward.

“What team would want to be without Patrick Horgan in a county quarter-final. It’s very unfortunate.”

At a more general level, Cullinane referred to what he described as “a conundrum facing the GAA,” where the marquee forward can come in for special attention.

“Two red cards. You’d have to ask the question why was Patrick Horgan involved in a schemozzle there. I don’t know, maybe other people saw it!”

The trouble on the sideline “absolutely” could not be condoned, he agreed, adding: “At the end of the day there should be no room for that kind of a mass brawl in the game. But, the players were tremendously frustrated. The reaction when Patrick Horgan went off. There seemed to be a kind of almost celebration in some parts. It certainly frustrated our players and things got out of hand.

“In fairness to both sets of players and both sets of mentors, after that I think it settled down to a reasonably sporting game. There wasn’t any kind of badness after that and that was important. It was to the credit of both sides and cool heads.”

Pádraig O’Donoghue didn’t witness the incident which led to the two red cards.

“I just saw the referee going up to talk to his two umpires and the two of them got sent off. Honestly, what happened up there I really don’t know,” he commented.

“There is great rivalry there over the years between Bishopstown and the Glen. They have played each other since they were kids — up to minors, 21s, city finals and senior championship two years ago.

“There has never been any problem between them. It was out of character both ways. It’s a regret to them and to us. There’s no question about that!’’