Fussy referee sends off six

Statisticians may yet take an unusual interest in this match at Dr Cullen Park yesterday. An innocuous encounter ended up with the referee being the most significant figure.

Not even the fact that each side scored a goal in the opening minutes and that the crucial score came a minute before the end will alter the fact that the referee, Niall Barrett from Cork, will be the centre of attention in GAA circles in the coming week. It was, perhaps, unfortunate for him that the GAA had decided to introduce the new system of yellow and red cards for the opening of the championship. That does not, however, excuse his interpretation of the rules of the game in such a petty, prissy manner.

In a match which completely devoid of rancour the sending off of six players and the issuing of 14 yellow cards was way beyond what was intended by the GAA in their decision to introduce a long overdue "tidying up". Throughout the entire match not a single blow was struck nor a boot used in anger and yet a crowd of about 6,000 left the ground baffled at what they had seen.

Oh yes! The match? A lengthy sideline kick by Garvan Ware in the first minute somehow managed to end up in the Westmeath net, partly it would seem through the intervention of Jody Morrissey. Westmeath goalkeeper Aidan Lennon appeared to be unsighted as the ball passed him.

There was also an element of good fortune about Westmeath's goal. A cross from Ken Lyons was allowed to drift across the Carlow goal and Martin Flanagan spotted the opening to put the sides level. It was then that Ger Heavin decided to take a hand and, from frees and play he drove Westmeath forward.

A soggy pitch and driving rain made conditions difficult for everyone, including the sparse crowd, but the sending off of Johnny Kavanagh in the 17th minute surprised many after an "off the ball" incident which seemed far from being a serious event.

What brought the attendance alight, however, was the double save by JJ Brennan from John Cooney 10 minutes later, which allowed Westmeath to go in for the tea-break with a two-point advantage (1-5 to 1-3). In the meantime Carlow's Brian Farrell had been sent off for a second bookable offence and Westmeath's Ken Lyons had joined him on the sideline for what appeared to be a minor (albeit repeated) transgression.

Six minutes into the second half Sean Kavanagh and Ken Walker of Carlow were also sent off and were joined later by Westmeath's Rory O'Connell and Carlow's Paud O'Dwyer. Bafflement was widespread.

The fact that a sending off may no longer be followed by a term of suspension seems to have given the impression, to referees at least, that such sanctions can now be imposed easily. On reflection the match had quite a lot to commend it and Carlow may feel badly done by in the end. They will, surely, feel that a draw would at least have given them some justice for their valiant efforts.

The score that secured the game for Westmeath came with time running out and Westmeath leading by a single point, 1-9 to 1-8. Flanagan dashed in for a goal almost on the call of time. Heavin then added a point from a free.

Some controversy will surround the fact that Westmeath published a team which was different in no fewer that four positions from the team which took the field. Fergal Murray, Aidan Canning, David O'Shaughnessy and Des Dolan were all included in the official line-up as per programme but none of them appeared. Dolan came on for a late burst toward the end.

There was much talk afterwards as to whether certain players were being spared for the All-Ireland under-21 final, in which Westmeath play Kerry next Saturday. Questions put to those who might know were met with blank expressions.

In the event Russell Casey and David Mitchell, in the heart of the Westmeath defence, held the fort when some about them were tending to panic. These did not include Rory O'Connell, until his sending off, John Cooney, who replaced O'Shaughnessy at midfield, and particularly Ger Heavin, whose contribution of nine points was, surely, a major factor in Westmeath's victory.

Word must be spared also for Martin Flanagan at full forward. His plundering of two opportunist goals was typical of a player who does his work without fuss. Shane Colleary, Damien Healy and Paul Conway in the half-forward line also made significant contributions.

For Carlow, not surprisingly, Joe Murphy, Garvan Ware, Jody Morrissey and Johnny Kavanagh (before his dismissal) were never short of spirit while Mark Dowling and Johnny Nevin did their share of the work. Both teams deserve praise for a sound effort in difficult conditions and it is a shame that the effort will be overwhelmed by matters outside the control of the players.