Black cards are in the GAA for a reason, not for referees to use as a cop out

The black card wasn't forged in the deepest, darkest GAA committee room for this.

You have to feel for David Coldrick. He had his hands full in Tyrone's 0-13 to 0-11 Ulster final win over Donegal. Still, he did himself no favours by dishing out early black cards when they were entirely unnecessary. 41 minutes into this afternoon's Ulster football final and Connor McAliskey cleaned his man out. It could have easily been a black card. David Coldrick noted the name, took a deep breath and a moment to assess. Yellow card. Two minutes earlier and a Michael Murphy shoulder on Tiernan McCann drew catcalls from the Tyrone fans. Medics on the pitch as the sun blazed down. Coldrick could not see the replays and did not get a shout from the sideline officials. Yellow card. Perhaps the Clones heat had got to the referee as his patience boiled over before the break. Mattie Donnelly was black-carded for an obstruction. Cathal McShane, thinking he was fouled, lifted his legs to trip his marker and his game was done too. The BBC reported that McShane's ill-advised decision to curse at officials swiftened his downfall. The decisions split the BBC Championship panel with even former Donegal player Martin McHugh saying Tyrone's two dismissals were harsh.

Black card - Helping? or Hindering? #Ulster2016https://t.co/vf6HXcjrJw

— The BBC Championship (@bbcchampionship) July 17, 2016

Had Coldrick been consistent, there should have been four men black-carded in the space of 10 minutes, either side of the break. However, there was nothing too nasty about any of the fouls. This is GAA after all. In attempting to clamp down on cynical fouls and late hits, the referee had drawn a line in the sand. The only problem was, both sets of players wiped their feet on that line and ploughed on. Make a decision on a card - yellow or red. The black card is there to stop cynical play, not as a cop out for big decisions. A middle ground. A way to get an abusive player out of your sight. 55 minutes in and Donegal's Anthony Thompson dragged Colm Cavanagh to the ground right as Coldrick looked on. No black card but Rory Gallagher took the hint and Mark McHugh replaced Thompson. 10 minutes later, with the game in the balance, the pair were switched again. And what happens in the final minutes? Conal McCan is bundled over in the last minute - right under Coldrick's nose - but no penalty is given. Donegal goalkeeper Mark Anthony McGinley is then punched in the stomach as he attempts to run out with the ball. All in clear daylight and play goes on. Deep in injury time, Paddy McGrath nearly took Mark Bradley's head off. He got a yellow card. Cynical fouls and no sight of the black. What is the bloody point?