Kilkenny hurling selector Martin Fogarty believes that players will retire early from the game if the recent glut of sending-offs continue.

Fogarty was speaking after two Leinster SHC games between Laois and Dublin and Galway and Wexford this month saw five red cards dished out between them, and he is hoping that his side's clash with Dublin in the province this Sunday won't see a similar outcome.

Fogarty told the Irish Examiner: "I can see players retiring. They work hard for months and suddenly they're gone off the field for a minor issue. It's not good enough and it's killing games. Supporters will stop going to matches.

"I felt like leaving when that Laois player (Brian Campion) was sent off. Here was a team trying to keep its head above water and taking on a team in the top bracket.

"There wasn't a dirty stroke in the game and suddenly, they're down a man and at the end of it, they were down two men. And three were sent off in the Wexford v Galway match - that shouldn't be happening. It's killing the game." Tweet

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