Reckless Red Card For Head Stamp Costs Antrim Dearly As They're Relegated To Joe McDonagh Cup

Davy Fitzgerald's Antrim hurlers have been relegated to the Joe McDonagh Cup after succumbing to a five point, 3-15 to 1-16 loss against Offaly in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship on Sunday afternoon.

Despite Antrim's most gallant efforts until the 70th minute, an early and reckless red card Niall O'Connor red card for a head stamp cost them dearly in the end.

It was a moment of madness from the Antrim cornerback that saw his side reduced to fourteen men after just six minutes. Offaly, at that point, had been the beneficiaries of an early goal and were once again on the brink of scoring as Antrim desperately tried to disrupt their momentum.

Despite successfully fighting the ball away from his own marker, who was on the ground and in no danger of contributing to the play, Antrim cornerback Niall O'Connor lost all control, stood over him and stamped down on his helmet.

Although there was little force in the stamp, O'Connor's actions were plain to see for the umpires, who wasted no time informing referee Michael Kennedy. The moment of madness from O'Connor left Kennedy with little option but to show him a straight red card and end his day.

The red card was one of three cards handed out to the Antrim team during the opening 35 minutes of action in Tullamore and continues a run of ill-discipline that has now seen them lose a player to the referee's notebook in four consecutive clashes.

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Speaking on GAA+'s halftime coverage, Kilkenny legend Richie Hogan slammed the actions of O'Connor, claiming there was no excuse for stamping on the head of another player.

Although Hogan didn't think much damage was inflicted by the stamp, he was in no doubt about what Niall O'Connor's motives were - a factor which, for him, was evidence of sheer ill-discipline among Davy Fitzgerald's Antrim hurlers.

It's just a really poor decision, obviously he just got a small bit carried away. He doesn't even hurt him, but if the players on the ground you can't stamp on him.

I'm always looking to see what he was trying to do. Well, he wasn't trying to do anything else there only lay a boot on him and you just can't do that. He didn't hurt anyone but you just can't do things like that, and that is discipline issue. It's different to two yellows, or to putting in a hard challenge and getting it wrong.

Despite their one-man reduction, Antrim fought for their place in the top flight of hurling till their very final breath, closing the gap to a single point as the clock neared 65.

By that point, discipline was plaguing not just both sides but also the display itself. Michael Kennedy's whistle was getting a stern workout as both counties' ferocious battling spilt over into frees.

Ultimately, however, Offaly had just too much for fourteen-man Antrim at home, with Killian Sampson's late goal securing a five-point win and relegating the Antrim hurlers to the Joe McDonagh Cup.