Refs’ chief defends decision to send off O’Connor

THE GAA’s referees spokesman, Michael Curley, has defended John Bannon’s decision to send Cork’s Alan O’Connor off five minutes before half-time in Sunday’s All-Ireland SFC semi-final win over Tyrone.

“The decision was made by John based purely on where he was standing at the time,” said Curley.

“From where he saw it, it looked like there had been an offence and that combined with the manner in which the Tyrone player fell to the ground.

“It was a reasonable call for John to make at the time, in real time. I have had experience of that situation myself. If you are standing at one angle you see it one way and you see it differently from another.”

Meanwhile, John Miskella could learn as early as today whether he faces any further disciplinary action for an incident during the second-half of Sunday’s clash.

TV cameras behind one of the goals clearly captured the defender punching Brian McGuigan off the ball after 54 minutes and the Tyrone forward was also seen to remonstrate angrily with the Ballincollig man shortly afterwards. Bannon was standing within metres of the incident but had his back turned to the pair when it occurred.

Miskella received a yellow card on the advice of another official but the Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) still has the authority to deal with the matter. The CCCC met yesterday morning and they are entitled to seek the referee’s clarification in relation to the incident. Bannon may decide that the matter doesn’t require any further action or accept that he didn’t see it which would allow the committee to take it further.

Such a scenario unfolded earlier this year when Ryan McMenamin received a six-week ban for an incident with Kerry’s Paul Galvin during a National League Division One tie between the counties in Omagh.

McMenamin initially escaped any punishment when Galvin was shown a black book by referee Jimmy White who seemed to think that the Kerry player was feigning injury when McMenamin had in fact made contact with the groin area. If Miskella were found guilty of striking he would miss next month’s All-Ireland final against either Kerry or Meath.