DUBLIN BOSS ANTHONY Daly has questioned whether the first yellow card that Ryan O’Dwyer received in yesterday’s All-Ireland semi-final was given due to his reputation.

O’Dwyer was sent to the line midway through the second-half after receiving his second booking of the game for a challenge on Lorcan McLoughlin.

It was a major setback for Dublin as they eventually lost out to Cork by 1-24 to 1-19 before 62,092 spectators in Croke Park.

Daly had no problems with the second yellow card being brandished but the first one in the opening minute of the game when O’Dwyer challenged Luke O’Farrell was open to debate in the eyes of Daly.

“The referee put himself under pressure with the first yellow. The second one was a free and a yellow.

“I think Ryan would admit that straight away. But I was right beside the first one. Shoulder on shoulder and yellow card given.

“But sure if you dish out one of those after a minute. Do you get the yellow on reputation because you’ve been sent off before? There was nothing malicious in what he did for the first one.

“Did anyone think Cork and Dublin would be dirty or something? No great rivalry. No great history. I don’t know. He just reacted. Would somebody else have got the yellow? I don’t know.

“I feel sorry for Ryan. I thought he had a tremendous match. He’s given us a great year. I can’t talk for James Owens. I can just say how disappointed we are.

“Disappointed for Ryan. It’s hard for him. Big day and I presume his family are in the stand.

“We saw it a couple of weeks ago with probably the greatest player we ever saw. That was rescinded. I hope the powers that be might have a look at that as well.”

Daly pinpointed Patrick Horgan’s 66th goal as the defining moment when the game swung in Cork’s direction as his 14-man team had battled on.

“We were still only a point down. If we got a ball down into the square, we had Conal (Keaney) put in full and he was capable of winning ball.

“But they broke up field, got the goal and that was the end of it. I thought we might had sneaked a draw and we might have got back here next Saturday.”

And he paid tribute to their opponents Cork.

“Fair play to Cork. We wish them very best of luck in the final. Obviously, I’ll have a vested interest if Clare are in the final, but you know, I’d be very fond of Jimmy (Barry-Murphy), Ger (Cunningham) and Seanie (McGrath) and the lads.

“We were down there for a training camp in April, and no problem, they gave us Pairc Ui Chaoimh for the training on the Sunday morning. They’re a good crowd.”

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