Were the sendings off in Tyrone v Cavan minor match the worst you ever seen ?

[orangeman]

During a very clean and sporting minor match played today in Clones, referee Ciaran Branagan fron Down sent off 2 Tyrone minors for 2nd yellow offences ( in his mind ).


Gavin Teague the Tyrone full back picked up a fairly inoccuous black tick, followed by a yellow - 5 minutes after the break, he fouled the full forward and to everyone's astonishment ( including the Cavan supporters ), he was sent off - Kyle Coney was also sent off near the end, when on a yellow, he fouled a Cavan player and was shown - WAIT FOR IT - A BLACK, FOLLOWED BY A YELLOW, FOLLOWED BY A RED !! Now beat that if you can !

There wasn't a dirty tackle in the game. The referee was throwing out cards like confetti and must have been disorientated.

I hope the referee gets a copy of the game and reconsiders ( not that it makes any difference now as Tyrone won the game with 13 men ) the sendings off and some blatant decisions against Tyrone and in favour of Down.  Now I'm not saying he's a poor ref - simply that he got it badly wrong today and I hope his assessment reflects this.

[orangeman]

He was a poor referee because it looked like Cavan were about to be over-run in the second half and he decided to intervene in the game.  He brought Cavan back with soft frees and pushing Tyrone back with yellow cards for nothing.  He almost handed the game to Cavan but was assisted by two problems for an extremely talented minor squad, the management just roared and shouted at the players on the field making no significant changes and the fitness levels of the players were very poor compared to Cavan.

[/b]


I know you have said before that the team isn't fit but are you really sure about that ?? Surely 17/18 year olds should be naturally fit ?

[bigpaul]

Don't know about fitness levels, but I thought Tyrone's work ethic was very poor today. Not what we have come to expect from O'Neill County teams!

[ONeill]

There seems to be an awful weight of expectation on this Tyrone side, with the media jumping on the Hogan Cup medalists of 2007/2008 dominating the side. This group have been touted since U16 as the 'best ever' from many quarters. However, those 2 close games will do them the world of good and, don't forget, Cavan have been the most impressive side to date with their majestic demolition of Armagh.

What's the story with the other semi?

[thejuice]

- WAIT FOR IT - A BLACK, FOLLOWED BY A YELLOW, FOLLOWED BY A RED !! Now beat that if you can !

I had a full house last night in the poker, does that beat it?

[Norf Tyrone]

Monagahan play Derry next Sunday I think in the other semi final O'Neill.

[Lawrence of Knockbride]

Would have to disagree with your assessment of Coney's red card. The ref is obliged to tick a player for a personal foul. Although I can't remember Coney's earlier fouls the one where he actually got sent off was a tug of a jersey at the start of what looked like a promising counter attack. There was no effort at all to play the ball, he simply wanted to halt Cavan in a not too dangerous position. It warranted a yellow on it's own. The ref did throw out some black and yellows that must have been for off the ball incidents as they were during a stoppage in play and were for players that hadn't been involved in the play just previous. But maybe it's the only way to deal with niggly fouls. It may not have been a dirty game but poor tackling is a weakness in our game and coaches might focus on it if players are being shown up with yellows and reds.

[Malone Aristocrat]

He was a poor referee because it looked like Cavan were about to be over-run in the second half and he decided to intervene in the game.  He brought Cavan back with soft frees and pushing Tyrone back with yellow cards for nothing. 

you could almost be talking aout the senior game!

[clarshack]

it is becoming clear that this referee is very much anti-tyrone. he was the referee that sent off 4 stewartstown players in the ballymacnab replay (which wasnt a dirty game btw). 3 were double yellows (all of these were very innoccuous) and the straight red card was for fergal logan which was later rescinded. he was at it again in the castlewellan 7's last year with one of the games involving carrickmore and then there was yesterday.

[orangeman]

Would have to disagree with your assessment of Coney's red card. The ref is obliged to tick a player for a personal foul. Although I can't remember Coney's earlier fouls the one where he actually got sent off was a tug of a jersey at the start of what looked like a promising counter attack. There was no effort at all to play the ball, he simply wanted to halt Cavan in a not too dangerous position. It warranted a yellow on it's own. The ref did throw out some black and yellows that must have been for off the ball incidents as they were during a stoppage in play and were for players that hadn't been involved in the play just previous. But maybe it's the only way to deal with niggly fouls. It may not have been a dirty game but poor tackling is a weakness in our game and coaches might focus on it if players are being shown up with yellows and reds.

Ok then - tell me about Gavin Teague's suspension ? If he deserves to be sent off, there would have been at 20 men sent off in the senior game -

This referee should not get another game until he proves he is competent and on yesterday's performance, he is a fair bit off the mark.

He obviously likes the headlines and the cards - power trip and a bit of sun can really distort the mind !