Waterford hurling bosses sweat on referee’s report

WORRYING times in Waterford hurling circles. GAA bosses in the county are sweating on the report of referee Diarmuid Kirwan on the dismissal of captain Paul Flynn late in Sunday’s NHL defeat to Limerick in Thurles.

Flynn became involved in an incident close to the sideline with second-half substitute Denis Moloney, and Cork referee Kirwan brandished a straight red.

When asked to comment in the aftermath of the game the referee said "it will be in my report".

If Flynn is reported for dangerous play unlikely to carry more than a one-month ban he'll be eligible for the Munster SHC semi-final against Limerick or Tipperary on June 4.

However, if Flynn is reported for a more serious offence striking as an example then he could face a ban of up to three months and would miss the entire Munster championship.

County board officials are adamant that Flynn's indiscretion was at worst, dangerous play.

"Paul (Flynn) was himself struck seconds before that and no action was taken", one board official said yesterday. "All we are asking for Paul is justice."

Meanwhile, the report of Limerick referee Pat O'Connor on the

Waterford game against Offaly, in which another Waterford player, Eoin Kelly, was sent off, has been submitted to Croke Park.

The Waterford county board is also believed to have received a copy but officials remain tight-lipped about it.

"To be honest it looked bad on television and all we can do is keep our fingers crossed," said one official, who did not wish to be named. "We are hoping for the best but fearing the worst," he added.

If Kelly is handed a three-month ban he will not be eligible to resume playing until July 2 and that would rule him out of the June 4 Munster semi-final and possibly the final on June 25.