Oisin McConville fears David Clifford will be put off playing Gaelic football after his controversial dismissal in Kerry's Allianz Football League defeat to Tyrone.

Clifford was harshly issued with a second yellow card by Longford referee Fergal Kelly who consulted with his linesmen after the Kerry captain tangled with his marker Ben McDonnell in the final quarter.

"For an umpire to make a call like that is just disgusting," former Armagh sharpshooter McConville told the BBC.

"Tyrone targeted him because he was on the second yellow card and as a result of that got him sent off.

"It's a ridiculous situation which is happening more and more. Defenders are overly physical on forwards and all of a sudden the referee takes the easy option, let's book the two of them. Unfortunately for David Clifford he had already been booked for an innocuous tackle in the first half."

McConville added: "It's very disenchanting for somebody like David Clifford who is one of our top players. He should be getting protection. That's what he should have got from the umpire today."

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