*Photograph: Raymond O’Mahony
133 red cards were dished during adult GAA games in Clare in 2019.
Éire Óg and Lissycasey appeared in referee’s notebooks more than any other club in the county. Both clubs had eleven dismissals each, however over half of Lissycasey’s were for black card offences.
Kilmurry Ibrickane were close behind with ten instances, followed by St Josephs Doora/Barefield Clondegad, Bodyke, Wolfe Tones and Inagh/Kilnamona (all eight). It should be noted in the case of Bodyke that three of their disciplinary matters were for unfulfilled fixtures, for which they were fined a total of €600.
With one sending off each amongst their adult sides, Ballyvaughan, Kilrush Shamrocks, Smith O’Briens, Ruan and Whitegate were best in the county when it came to maintaining their cool and fifteen players on the field.
Abuse towards referees was still prevalent at games with nine suspensions handed out for such offences. Christy Kirwan of St Senans Kilkee received a 48 week ban as he was deemed to “strike a referee” during an intermediate game in September. Former Clare footballer, Seamus Clancy (Corofin) was slapped with a twelve week suspension for “threatening and abusive language” to the match official.
Naomh Eoin’s Padraig Foley was sanctioned with an eight week ban by Clare GAA in March. He was deemed to have physically interfered with another player in a non-playing infraction.
Four week bans were given to Conor Clancy (Kilmaley), Shane McMahon (Clooney/Quin), Cathal McConigley (Inagh/Kilnamona), Patsy Fahy (Doora/Barefield) and Denis Riordan (Wolfe Tones) for verbal abuse towards referees.
Suspensions that were subsequently lifted such as the rescinding of Gary Cooney’s high-profile red card during O’Callaghans Mills’ first round Clare SHC defeat to Clonlara were not included in the figures. The number beside each club is the total figure for dismissals (red and black) plus walkovers, Kildysyart did not have a player sent off in 2019 but were punished for failing to fulfil two fixtures.
Éire Óg – 11
Lissycasey – 11
Kilmurry Ibrickane – 10
Doora/Barefield – 8
Clondegad – 8
Bodyke – 8
Wolfe Tones – 8
Inagh/Kilnamona – 8
Feakle – 7
Corofin – 7
Cratloe – 7
Coolmeen – 6
Clonlara – 5
Newmarket-on-Fergus – 5
Doonbeg – 5
Broadford – 4
Killanena – 4
O’Callaghans Mills – 4
St Breckans – 4
Miltown – 4
Naomh Eoin – 3
Kilmaley – 3
Kilmihil – 3
O’Currys – 3
Sixmilebridge – 3
Liscannor – 3
Parteen – 3
Banner – 2
Scariff – 2
Tubber – 2
Tulla – 2
Ballyea – 2
Kildysart – 2
Killimer – 2
Clarecastle – 2
Clooney/Quin – 2
Crusheen – 2
Cooraclare – 2
Shannon Gaels – 2
Ennistymon – 2
Michael Cusacks – 2
Meelick – 2
St Senans Kilkee – 2
Ballyvaughan – 1
Kilrush Shamrocks – 1
Smith O’Briens – 1
Ruan – 1
Whitegate – 1
