Brian Gavin: Coldrick had hands full and nasty incident deserves retrospective punishment

Officials at Celtic Park seemed to have witnessed the incident involving Connaire Mackin and Conor Glass.

BUSY AFTERNOON: Match referee David Coldrick awards a free following a foul on Derry's Conor Glass. Pic: INPHO/Lorcan Doherty

There was a real edge to the Ulster derby in Celtic Park on Sunday afternoon and we might not have heard the end of it.

By that, I mean there could be retrospective punishment in the pipeline. Now, the Central Competitions Control Committee haven’t taken much action in this championship. The proposed bans for Davy Fitzgerald and Tommy Corbett from the Clare-Waterford Munster SHC Round 4 match are the only ones that I am aware of but they could be called into making a decision relating to one nasty incident in Derry.

It was clear from the get-go that David Coldrick was going to have his hands full and in general he acquitted himself well in a high tempo game. However, none of the officials seemed to have witnessed the nasty incident involving Connaire Mackin and Conor Glass.

Armagh’s Mackin flicked his leg out and caught Glass, who was lying on the ground, on the head. It was a difficult one for Coldrick and his team to see but it was a sly, sneaky act that has no place in the game and deserves punishment.

As a result of that, there was a skirmish and Brendan Rogers and Rian O’Neill were booked. Later, Oisín Conaty received a yellow for a high tackle and Aidan Forker was also cautioned with a card for an off-the-ball matter.

In the second half, substitute Ciarán McFaul was sent off for picking up his second booking. 

Having already been booked, he was sent off when he received a black for pulling down Joe McEvoy and made Coldrick’s mind up for him. Rory Grugan was also yellow carded later for a push on the back.

There was relatively little to highlight in the earlier televised game between Meath and Kerry in Navan where Liam Devenney had a comfortable 75 or so minutes. That wasn’t the case for Barry Cassidy the afternoon before in Roscommon.

Their manager Davy Burke was frustrated with the awarding of a penalty to Mayo in the second half. Ryan O’Donoghue was initially fouled in the box but then took 10 or 11 steps before he was tugged back again and the Derry referee signalled for the penalty.

Had Cassidy either awarded Mayo a 13-metre free for the original foul on O’Donoghue or in contrast given Roscommon a free-out for the Mayo forward overcarrying, there would have been few complaints.

Instead, he drew the ire of the home support and the penalty goal converted by O’Donoghue turned out to be a crucial score as it put Mayo five points up and in the driving seat.

Close to the end of additional time, Fergal Boland was issued a red card after Cassidy was advised by assistant referee Maggie Farrelly. It was a good spot by Farrelly as the Mayo man did appear to make contact with the chin of Ultan Harnedy.

Boland was shocked by his dismissal as was his manager Kevin McStay in interviews afterwards and he maintained his player wouldn’t do such a thing, but if Mayo are to free him up for the Dublin game that comes the weekend after next they will need video evidence to contradict the decision.

Just after that, Roscommon cried for a second penalty when Matthew Ruane’s foot stopped a shot from Daire Cregg and it went out for a 45 but Cassidy was right not to award it as the Mayo midfielder was more than a foot away from the strike as the rule insists.

Looking ahead to the Leinster, Munster and Joe McDonagh Cup hurling finals this weekend coming, we return to an old bugbear of mine. We’re a week out from these matches and there has been no word about who will be officiating these games.

Perhaps the referees in question have already been told they’re going to Croke Park and Thurles but they should be known by now. If they haven’t been told, it’s unfair and if the rest of the referees panel isn’t aware then it is not right too.

Finally, I can’t go without mentioning as an Offaly man just how life-affirming Saturday night was in Kilkenny. To see this mighty young bunch of U20 hurlers get their just rewards for all the hard work they have put and skills they have honed was simply joyous.

It was a deserving win on the night and for all the heartache they have suffered as minors and U20s in the All-Ireland finals against Tipperary and Cork. People outside Offaly might not fully appreciate it but this victory was vital in helping us get back to the top tier of hurling.

Personally, to see three young men from my club of Clara and another on the extended panel was an unreal experience. Clara, as a lot of people are aware, is a predominantly football club but to see our boys bring All-Ireland hurling glory back to our patch I couldn’t imagine a prouder moment.

For all the lads who have kept hurling going in the club, Saturday made it all worthwhile. Thank you, boys.