Christy O'Connor's talking points: Refs send red message but players have duty of care

There were eight red cards in Division 1 over the weekend, six for head-high tackles or offences

Referee Sean Stack shows David Blanchfield of Kilkenny a red card. Pic: Bryan Keane, Inpho

Players have a duty of care to each other 

As soon as Conor Cooney shouldered Barry Murphy early in the second half on Saturday evening in the Gaelic Grounds, which left Murphy sprawled on the ground, Will O’Donghue arrived over to the linesman with two fingers in the air to let him know that it was Cooney’s second offence.