Players need protection, says Devenney
FORMER Donegal star Brendan Devenney claimed yesterday that the country’s top footballers need more protection from referees. While Monaghan manager Malachy O’Rourke was hailed for his defensive match-ups which saw Donegal’s full-forward trio of Colm McFadden, Paddy McBrearty and Michael Murphy held scoreless last weekend, Devenney claimed the latter in particular received ‘in the face’ treatment that crossed the line of fair play. And Devenney, despite having no issue with Stephen Gollogly’s tackle in the eight minute which may have ended Mark McHugh’s season, also claimed that the Kilcar man had been targeted unfairly by opposing teams this season. ‘Mark McHugh has been coming in for a lot of stick; he has been third-man tackled all the time because teams are trying to stop his running game. ‘There is a lot of messing going on with Mark and he needs more protection from referees. ‘I think that applies to other forwards as well, you saw it with Stephen O’Neill and Michael Murphy as well last weekend where players were hanging out of them and constantly in their face. I think we have to be careful that we don’t cross a boundary where it becomes legitimate for players to be constantly grabbing, pushing and in the face of an opponent,’ said Devenney. ‘I know mass defence is now a tactic but there is a line which should not be crossed.’ Meanwhile, Jamie Coughlan has been called into the Cork team for Sunday’s All-Ireland SHC quarter-final clash with Kilkenny. Rebels boss Jimmy Barry Murphy — boosted by the availability of Patrick Horgan, who successfully over-turned a red card — settles for just one change from the side which lost to Limerick in the Munster final with Cian McCarthy making way. Mickey Harte has also made one change to the Tyrone team for tomorrow’s football qualifier clash against Meath, with Ciaran McGinley replacing Aidan McCrory.