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.