Kieran Donaghy backs ref Eddie Kinsella after Dubs cry foul in Killarney

Kerry captain Kieran Donaghy defended the performance of referee Eddie Kinsella in the wake of Sunday’s fiery league encounter with Dublin, insisting the Laois official was justified in flashing 12 cards.

Jim Gavin’s side bore the brunt of Kinsella’s decisions, with Michael Fitzsimons sent off for a frontal charge on Fionn Fitzgerald deep in second-half stoppages.

Fitzsimons’ red card offence, and, indeed, the heated altercations in front of the Kerry goal stemmed from a clash between Bernard Brogan and Anthony Maher. Both were yellow carded, Brogan bringing to five the number of Dubs to see yellow — Rory O’Carroll, Eoghan O’Gara, Tomas Brady and Cormac Costello all disciplined.