Red card to be appealed
Board will try to ensure Mac is available for Carlow tie
WEXFORD MANAGER Davy Fitzgerald has confirmed the County Board will appeal Conor McDonald’s red card against Dublin.
The Naomh Eanna clubman entered Saturday’s Allianz League Division 1 game as a 48th-minute substitute, replacing Mikie Dwyer in his now familiar full-forward role.
McDonald was the last of three Wexford players to come in contact with Dublin defender Paddy Smyth as he drove out of defence.
It was apparent that McDonald’s tackle was the least offensive, but amazingly fussy referee Johnny Murphy, who was the centre of attention throughout the game, brandished a straight red card to the Gorey player.
Fitzgerald indicated yesterday (Monday) that they will be contesting the decision.
‘We will be lodging an appeal, of that there’s no doubt. Really it was the wrong player singled out, so we will be confident with an appeal,’ he said.
Should McDonald be successful in his appeal bid, he will be available for the final group game against Carlow at Chadwicks Wexford Park on Sunday (2 p.m.).
Meanwhile, Fitzgerald will update himself with the injury list at this week’s training.
‘Matthew O’Hanlon will definitely start. That was his first start since last July. He is in much need of game time,’ the manager said of his joint captain whose one-hundredth appearance ended with his withdrawal at half-time.
‘I don’t know about Lee Chin until training this week. We are not sure whether it’s a muscle or slight hamstring. We will have an update on that tonight (Tuesday) at training.’
While delighted with the resilience shown by his side, Fitzgerald admitted there is very little to take from a game in February.
Biting his lip about referee Murphy, Fitzgerald said: ‘We have a great game. We really have a great game and it’s important we mind it. In hurling you can blow for a free every minute or two but it’s important to be sensible.
‘I’m not going to give out right now because there is no point, but I love the game of hurling we have, but we need to protect it.’
Asked if Murphy’s fussy officiating was a one-off or the result of a G.A.A. mandate to clamp down on fouls in hurling, Fitzgerald offered a cryptic response.
‘I’m not going to go into what I know exactly, trust me. Let’s just see if anything happens after tonight, that’s all I will say.’
Fitzgerald was happy to focus on the strong-willed nature of his side.
‘I’ll just concentrate on how resilient we were. Dublin fought their hearts out but we ground out some result in the end.
‘Dublin were out to upset our style. They continually blocked the loose player moving forward but were never penalised. That’s one area that bothers me, we were continually being fouled off the ball.’
On the result, Fitzgerald said it’s mid-February and one should not read too much into it.
‘It will be different on a dry sod in May in Chadwicks Wexford Park. I’ve no doubt about that.’
Fitzgerald expects that when the final round of games are played next Sunday, Clare will defeat Dublin and head the group, while a win for Wexford in those circumstances would leave them in second place.
Meanwhile, after forging a third successive victory with some ease against London on Sunday, the footballers will be aiming to maintain their promotion push from Division 4 when they host Sligo on Saturday at 2 p.m.