Fourteen off in red card fever
No fewer than 14 players were sent off in 16 League games half for straight red card offences and a GAC investigation is pending into an incident after Kerry's victory over Cork in Tralee, which left Kerry's Paul Galvin in hospital with concussion.
Mr. Kelly pointed to the fact that a number of the weekend dismissals were for second yellow cards and insisted that this was less to do with ill-discipline than a concerted bid by referees for consistent application of the rules.
Referees spokesman Fr Seamus Gardiner revealed that officials from around the country met last week to discuss key issues. "We have a number of new referees so the instruction was to implement the rules as they appear in the rule book."
"We are paying special attention to technical fouls such as hand-passing and picking the ball off the ground but also to issues like the caution, frontal challenges and the growing trend of elbows and high tackles."
He explained: "The issue of consistency is vital. That was the big complaint last year so we simply told the referees to implement the rules as they are in the rule book throughout the Allianz League in football and hurling."
"The mood was very good amongst those in attendance and we plan to meet again at the end of the League to assess the matter. The National Referees Committee also picked up from games played last year and we analysed them on video and had a very thorough discussion."
Fr Gardiner added: "If the rules are implemented and players and mentors still feel things are wrong, then we will have to look at the rule book again."
GAA president, Mr Kelly said that the spate of sendings off may also be explained by the increased competitiveness of the League, something commented on by a number of managers yesterday.
"There is requirements on managers and teams to get points now and a number of improving teams are determined to make their mark," said Mr Kelly.
Three players were dismissed by Cork referee Micheal Collins in yesterday's televised Division 1B clash of Galway and Armagh at Pearse Stadium with Paddy McKeever and Steven McDonnell of Armagh joining Galway's Michael Comer on the sidelines all for second yellow card offences.
There were also three dismissals in the heated clash of neighbours Westmeath and Longford at Cusack Park. Westmeath midfielder Rory O'Connell got a straight red for a high challenge on Paul Barden. Longford's Cathal Conefrey also received a straight red while his colleague David Barden went for two yellow cards issued by Kildare official Michael Monahan. In Kingscourt, Cavan had two players dismissed in their defeat at home to Limerick, with 13 players booked and 78 frees in total. Pearse McKenna received a straight red card for lashing out at Muiris Gavin while Anthony Forde received his marching orders for two yellow cards.
Darren Homan also picked up two yellows in Dublin's crushing defeat to Mayo in Castlebar while Meath's Shane McKeigue and Wexford's Niall Murphy were dismissed in a closely fought affair at Wexford Park the former a straight red card. Offaly's Scott Brady received a straight red for a foul on London's Colm Foody in their Division Two tie.
Meanwhile, umpires at Saturday night's controversial televised League tie between Kerry and Cork in Tralee may play a key role in the investigation of a serious incident after the final whistle.
Kerry's Paul Galvin was removed to hospital with concussion after allegedly receiving a blow to the face from a Cork player as the teams left the field.
Referee Michael Ryan of Limerick who issued first half red cards to Cork's Padraig Griffin and Kerry midfielder Seamus Scanlon had already left the pitch, but it is understood that the incident may have been seen by at least one umpire and will be included in the referee's report to Croke Park's Games Administration Committee (GAC) this week.
GAC chairman Tony O'Keeffe was at the match in Tralee, but did not see the incident. He said yesterday: "Any incident that is reported to us by the referee or caught on video will be fully investigated."
TG4's live coverage of the game, in which two players were also sent off, did not capture the incident, but station chiefs will examine footage from their six cameras today to ascertain whether the culprit can be identified.
As well as their two cameras in the TV gantry, TG4 had two sideline cameras and one at each end of the field. The station's head of sport, Ronán Ó Coisdealbha, said it was now standard practice to forward game tapes to Croke Park's GAC.
Ironically, Galvin is a teacher at Coláiste Chríost Rí in Cork and does not wish to pursue the matter further. He is doubtful for Kerry's Allianz League trip to Dublin on Sunday.
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