#LetCathalPlay is doing the rounds in Wexford.
Naomh Eanna will play in their first ever county senior hurling final this Sunday when they take on reigning champs St Martin’s in Wexford Park on Sunday.
As thing stand, the men of Gorey are going into the biggest game in their club’s history down a key man, however.
They defeated Oylegate-Glenbrien by four points in the semi-final a week and a half ago now, but the red card issued to their free-scoring corner forward Cathal Dunbar in the second half of the game put a slight dampener on the historic win.
Their worries were confirmed when the one game suspension automatically accrued from Dunbar’s red card was upheld by the Wexford county board on appeal this week.
In the meantime, footage has emerged of the incident that saw Dunbar, who had scored a goal in the first half of the game, given his marching orders on the grounds of pulling his opponent’s faceguard.
After being dispossessed himself, and then dispossessing the Oylegate-Glenbrien number three, Dunbar and his opponent wrestled one another on the ground for a couple of seconds.
The pair got to their feet a couple of seconds later, and the Oylegate man’s helmet certainly looked like it hadn’t been interfered with.
Harsh on @NaomhEannaGAA Cathal Dunbar (number 15 getting) a red card and missing a county final over this incident? @EoinSheahan @gergilroy @ShaneSaint @mlverney @gergilroy @OffTheBallAM pic.twitter.com/oyZly1scH3
— Sean Flynn (@SeanFlynn85) October 15, 2018
With the footage of the incident going viral, a whole host of high profile hurling figures such as Kilkenny legend Eddie Brennan and Dunbar’s Wexford teammates Paul Morris and Andrew Shore have pleaded the case of one of the championship’s top scorers.
Brennan couldn’t see anything wrong with the incident while Paul Morris thinks it’s an “absolute joke for him to miss a county final over this.”
Let common sense prevail and let the man play,” said Shore to plenty of backing.
Dubar’s loss would be a huge one for Gorey. A lively inside forward with pace to burn, his twin threat with Conor McDonald in the full forward line has rejuvenated his club’s fortunes. Not only is he quick and nippy, he also has a serious touch and plenty of skill.
Time will tell if sense prevails.
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