Wexford set to appeal Rory O’Connor red card received against Cork

The Wexford Senior hurlers took on Cork last weekend in the opening game of the Allianz Hurling League…

Wexford entered the clash with last year’s All-Ireland finalists with a depleted panel, and fans were thinking the worst after Saturday evening’s game with a clash against Tipperary to follow next weekend.

Not only were Wexford crushed by a stylish Cork outfit, but Wexford’s captain – Rory O’Connor – received a straight red in the game after an altercation with Patrick Dalton, who also received a straight red for the altercation, which occurred on the 53rd minute mark of the game.

Watch: Why Rory O’Connor and Dalton received straight red cards

After the Wexford and Cork game, both managers stated that they will appeal the decision by the referee to send the players off:

“Hopefully, we’ll have the video tonight to look back on it. I think it was harmless stuff now. We’re talking the fourth weekend in January. Two lads and you have a bit of a shemozzle after a free. I don’t think there was any malice in any of it. It’s gone too severe, to be honest with you. I wouldn’t be happy with it.”

“Two yellow cards branded and on we go with it and instead two sending offs for two fellas that aren’t really dirty either. So yeah we probably will be appealing it,” Rossiter said.

For the last several years, O’Connor has been Wexford’s key attacker alongside Lee Chin – and his loss, when Wexford are already heavily depleted, would be tough to carry for a youthful panel.

Wexford will take on Tipperary in Semple Stadium next weekend. As it stands, Wexford would be without Rory O’Connor, Lee Chin, Jack O’Connor, Conor McDonald, Damien Reck, (Matthew O’Hanlon, Liam Og McGovern, Dee O’Keeffe – all retired). When looking at those names, it has been the spine of the team for the last several years.

Unlike Wexford who suffered a heavy 0-12 to 2-21 home loss to Cork last weekend, Tipperary looked to be in great form. Liam Cahill’s Tipp side outclassed Galway by 12 points on a score-line of (Galway 2-16 – Tipperary 3-25) in a cracking game.

Read Byron Jones’ report from the Wexford vs Cork match at Wexford Park here.