National Referee's Committee chairman Michael Curley has defended John Bannon's decision to send off Cork's Alan O'Connor in last Sunday's All-Ireland semi-final against Tyrone. The retiring Longford official has come under fire for dismissing the big midfielder on a second yellow card in the 29th minute of Cork's 1-13 to 0-11 victory at Croke Park. "The decision was made by John based purely on where he was standing at the time," Curley said in the Irish Examiner. "From where he saw it, it looked like there had been an offence and that combined with the manner in which the Tyrone player (Owen Mulligan) fell to the ground. "It was a reasonable call for John to make at the time, in real time. I have had experience of that situation myself. If you are standing at one angle you see it one way and you see it differently from another." Meanwhile, John Miskella could find out as early as today whether he faces any further disciplinary action for an incident involving Brian McGuigan's in the 54th minute of Sunday's game. The Ballincollig wing back escaped with only a yellow card after TV cameras clearly captured the defender striking McGuigan off-the-ball, and he faces the prospect of missing the All-Ireland final if the CCCC decides to issue him with a retrospective four-week ban. Tweet

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