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Brian Lohan and Eddie Brennan had very different opinions on how many red cards should have been shown in Clare’s narrow win in Ireland’s qualifying over Laois today.
The Banner lost captain David McInerney to a no-ball incident shortly before halftime in which Laois’s Mark Kavanagh also received a yellow from referee Thomas Walsh.
Speaking later, Clare’s manager, Lohan, said McInerney had assured her that the red wasn’t justified.
“I didn’t see the incident, but I did talk to David at halftime,” Lohan said.
“He was pushing himself, like guys push, and it was the linesman on the other side (James Owens) who made the call.
“Very disappointed. I thought the game was played with excellent spirit and with players working hard.”
His counterpart Brennan thought Clare was lucky to finish with 14 men, however he was apparently referring to an incident in the second half when Aron Shanagher’s pitch caught Laois backup Colm Stapleton.
“There were a lot of high tackles today,” Brennan said.
“It’s something that is very current, and in particular in light of the fact that there was already a man on the line for Clare, I think the officials bottled it up.
“That happens. Sometimes you get them and sometimes you don’t.”
Nonetheless, the former Kilkenny star says he was “very proud of the effort” after his team rallied from 0-16 to 1-06 at halftime to lose by just one.
“The way we played in that second half was phenomenal,” he said.
“Our first half hurt us because we had a lot of turnovers. We hunted in packs, but the handling errors gave Clare a lot of touchdowns. But we got it right in the second half and we were late.
“A couple of free hits missed, these are the little things that add up. In the same way, Enda (goalkeeper Rowland) had to make two good saves in the first half.”
Lohan admitted that he was “delighted to get over it” and be in the second round draw with Tipperary, Wexford and Cork.
“It was a very tough game,” he said. “Fifty minutes of play with 14 men, particularly with the style of play Laois plays, that game of possession requires a lot of work.
“We received three goals. Maybe we were unlucky, they made three shots on goal, and sometimes you have days like the day.”
“There are excuses, but I guess it’s not enough.
“We are happy to be still in the championship and we will see what happens from now on.”
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