CLARE BOSS DAVY Fitzgerald refused to take Podge Collins’ red card in the drawn qualifier against Wexford lying down.

The forward was issued a straight red by referee Cathal McAllister just before half-time of Saturday’s frenetic clash in Ennis for interfering with the helmet of Dave Redmond.

Fitzgerald made sure to stop short of criticising the referee’s decision, saying McAllister had no choice but to follow the letter of the law. But the All-Ireland winning boss branded the law itself ‘ridiculous’.

“This rule is a joke,” Fitzgerald reacted to The Sunday Game.

“You touch someone in the head guard. That’s a killer. That’s being honest. He [McAllister] had to do what he had to do, I understand it. But they’d want to lighten up a small bit on that rule.

“If you hit someone hard or give them a belt in the head – fine, fair enough – but putting your hand on their face guard, my opinion, I think this is ridiculous.

“But that’s the way it is. He had to do what he had to do, that’s what he’s been instructed to do. I don’t agree with it.”

All-Ireland champs Clare survive massive scare in thrilling qualifier draw with Wexford

Here’s today’s GAA qualifier draws in hurling and football