Éamonn Fitzmaurice: Battle of Killarney poses Jack O'Connor one of his biggest ever tests

Micheál Burns' red card in Killarney changed everything and it would be interesting to know how the match officials came to the (correct) decision. Did they use video footage at half-time? If so is this permitted?

BATTLE OVER: Donegal manager Jim McGuinness shakes hands with Kerry boss Jack O'Connor after the game in Killarney. Pic: ©INPHO/James Lawlor

From the off there has been no shortage of taking points this season. These have incrementally increased with each passing weekend of action. The weekend was no exception. At this rate of progress we will be in for some crescendo by the time we hit late July.

There is only one place to start, the Battle of Killarney. I mentioned on these pages on Saturday that there was an edge to this rivalry and that the Michael Murphy incident coupled with the hammering in the league final meant it could be spicy. It was, and then some. Before the ball was thrown in there were physical confrontations all over the pitch. The half-time incidents were the pinnacle of this but there were flashpoints galore throughout. It would seem that the black card for the third man in to a brawl has been parked as this would have put a stop to matters earlier.