'An official cannot put his hand on a player'
June 17, 2019
Clare joint-manager Gerry O'Connor pushes Cork's Daniel Kearney to the ground.
Eddie Brennan believes Clare joint-manager Gerry O'Connor deserved to be sent off during his side's Munster SHC victory over Cork.
O'Connor was sent to the stands by referee Paud O'Dwyer following a sideline incident with Cork's Daniel Kearney in the 14th minute and speaking on The Sunday Game, Laois boss Brennan had no sympathy for him.
"The ball breaks off Aidan Walsh's leg. Gerry O'Connor gets involved and for me it's an absolute no no. You just cannot handle a player when you are an official. It's just an absolute no no," the former Kilkenny star noted.
"In doing what he done, he causes (Daniel) Kearney's hurl to clip Malone but I think what we are seeing here is the pressure of the occasion. Gerry O'Connor is normally... I have never seen him this irate and maybe it is just the circumstances of it.
"For me, an official cannot put his hand on a player. We saw it in Nowlan Park a couple of years ago where Davy Fitzgerald got penalised for doing that and rightly so."
Despite the win, the Banner exited the championship on scoring difference.
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