Referees must be sure when sending off a player, says Cork hurling boss Pat Ryan

Some red card fouls have been "very innocuous" claims the Cork manager.

Cork hurling manager Pat Ryan said that along with Brian Hayes, his side's main injury concerns ahead of this weekend's Allianz Hurling League Division 1A final against Tipperary are Conor Lehane, Robbie O’Flynn and Micheál Mullins. Pic: ©INPHO/James Lawlor

Cork manager Pat Ryan says referees have to be “100% sure” when they are sending off players.

Ahead of Sunday’s sold-out Allianz Division 1A final against Tipperary in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, which will be officiated by Seán Stack, Ryan believes a number of sendings off in recent weeks have been questionable.

Cork successfully contested Cormac O’Brien’s dismissal against Clare last month, although Declan Dalton’s two-match suspension arising from the opening game against Wexford was upheld.

On the cusp of the Munster championship, Ryan accepted dangerous head-high fouls have to be cut out but stressed referees have to be absolutely certain when issuing red cards.

“Liam (Cahill, Tipperary manager) would be of the same opinion that both teams go out to play well and play fairly. I don’t think there is any skullduggery going on across anything in the GAA at the moment.

“Obviously, there’s a big crackdown on some of those head injuries and obviously we’re coming into championship now and if a fella gets sent off at the weekend, he’s going to miss a championship match.

“In an amateur sport, we just have to be careful when we’re sending off people when we’re not 100% sure. There is a lot of pressure on the referees, I understand that, but when you’re sending off people, you have to make sure that you’re 100% right.

“It can ruin the game and a lot of people are paying good money to watch a spectacle. But look, if a person is going out to do people, if a player is intentionally looking to hurt somebody, he has to be sent off the field.

“But a lot of the incidents that we’ve seen has been careless timing and some of them have been very innocuous. The issue is there is a lot of pressure and directives on referees and it makes it hard for them. It goes back to you don’t really want to see the referee. The best referees aren’t really involved in the game.” 

Aside from Brian Hayes (knee) who should be back for the provincial SHC fixtures against Limerick and Waterford next month, Cork’s main injury concerns this weekend relate to Conor Lehane, Robbie O’Flynn and Micheál Mullins. Ger Millerick (hamstring) is available again after missing the Galway game.

Ryan said: “Conor Lehane and Robbie O’Flynn are two fellas who will be under pressure as to where they are at and Micheál Mullins is another lad who has picked up a bit of an injury two or three weeks ago. They should all be back in the lead-up to championship but are probably a week away.”