Galway star Joe Canning was red-carded last weekend in Portumna’s clash with Athenry. His teammate Andy Smith and Athenry’s Diarmuid Cloonan and Shane Donoghgue were also sent to the line by referee Peter Murphy.
A rumpus broke out midway through the second half when Cloonan and Canning became involved in an altercation. Following that melee, the four players were given their marching orders.
The game ended 0-12 to 0-12 and saw Portumna topping Group A and automatically qualifying for the quarter-finals.
However the implications of the two red cards could be serious with the possibility that Canning and Smith could be suspended for their next championship game, the county quarter-final.
As a result, the odds for the county championship favourites have been reduced considerably and they are now 11/8 with Mulhollands to win the county cup. Clarinbridge are second favourites at 11/4.
