CLARE MANAGER DAVY FIZTGERALD was less than impressed with the performance of referee Johnny Ryan as the defending champions crashed out of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship with an extra-time loss to Wexford today.
Clare played most of the second half with 13 men after Brendan Bugler and Jack Browne were both shown the line either side of the the break.
Bugler was dismissed with a straight red for a strike after the whistle while Browne picked up a second yellow – after the intervention of linesman Barry Kelly – ten minutes into the second period.
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However, it appears as if it was Ryan’s decision making in extra-time that upset Fitzgerald, rather than the dismissals.
“To say we were unlucky doesn’t say it. The best thing is to say nothing but fair play to Wexford they played tremendous stuff again,” he told RTÉ Radio One after the game.
“Maybe [the red cards] were warranted but maybe there were other instances when they were warranted as well.
“There is no point complaining no matter if Johnny Ryan gives three or four times as many free to [Wexford] and tells me they are frees and doesn’t give them to us, I can’t say anything. We’ve no complaints.
“I can’t understand, in extra time, John Conlon and Aaron Cunningham being pulled down and he gives a free out when we were a point down.”
Despite the loss, the All-Ireland winning boss insists his side will rebound from this year’s disappointing campaign.
“We in Clare are proud of what we’ve done last year and I’m so proud of what the boys done this year. We were down to 13 lads and two points down but we hung tough,” he added.
“We will regroup and we will come back again. We’re fighters and I’m proud of them guys with all the adversity that was put in there way.
“They showed what they are made of and fair play to them.”
'We've no complaints' says Davy Fitzgerald before complaining about the referee
CLARE MANAGER DAVY FIZTGERALD was less than impressed with the performance of referee Johnny Ryan as the defending champions crashed out of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship with an extra-time loss to Wexford today.
Clare played most of the second half with 13 men after Brendan Bugler and Jack Browne were both shown the line either side of the the break.
Bugler was dismissed with a straight red for a strike after the whistle while Browne picked up a second yellow – after the intervention of linesman Barry Kelly – ten minutes into the second period.
However, it appears as if it was Ryan’s decision making in extra-time that upset Fitzgerald, rather than the dismissals.
“To say we were unlucky doesn’t say it. The best thing is to say nothing but fair play to Wexford they played tremendous stuff again,” he told RTÉ Radio One after the game.
“Maybe [the red cards] were warranted but maybe there were other instances when they were warranted as well.
“There is no point complaining no matter if Johnny Ryan gives three or four times as many free to [Wexford] and tells me they are frees and doesn’t give them to us, I can’t say anything. We’ve no complaints.
Despite the loss, the All-Ireland winning boss insists his side will rebound from this year’s disappointing campaign.
“We in Clare are proud of what we’ve done last year and I’m so proud of what the boys done this year. We were down to 13 lads and two points down but we hung tough,” he added.
“We will regroup and we will come back again. We’re fighters and I’m proud of them guys with all the adversity that was put in there way.
“They showed what they are made of and fair play to them.”
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Wexford finally beat Clare after more extra-time drama
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All-Ireland Senior HC COMP:ALL-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Davy Fitzgerald GAA Seeing Red Clare Wexford