Brian Gavin: Extremely harsh red for Tipp minor Minogue

Had Tipperary not rallied, the verdict on Thomas Gleeson and his linesman would have been pretty damning.

HARSH: Referee Thomas Gleeson shows a red card to Cillian Minogue of Tipperary during the Electric Ireland GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Championship final. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

The most disputable decision across the weekend came not in Croke Park but in Nowlan Park where Tipperary’s Cillian Minogue was sent off in the seventh minute of the All-Ireland minor hurling final. Minogue and Kilkenny player Bobby Brennan appeared to be holding each other’s hurls and when Minogue tried to break free from his marker’s hold, the hurl went loose and made contact with Brennan.

Referee Thomas Gleeson consulted with his linesman and the advice was to send off Minogue to almost everyone’s amazement. It was an extremely harsh call and in no way did Minogue swing back to deserve such a punishment.