Diarmuid Connolly’s next black card could prove very, very costly

Diarmuid Connolly would be very wise to take a black card against Wexford or Carlow.

One more strike and he's out. If Dublin's frightening half forward picks up another offence that warrants a black in the championship, he'll be suspended for one game and not even the CHC or the CAC or the DRA could overrule it this time. Connolly has already accumulated two black cards this season - against Monaghan when he was sprung from the bench and in the league final against Kerry too. A third and he'll be hit with a suspension. According to the official playing rules, if a player receives three black cards in the one season across the league and championship, he'll miss the very next game. This rule also applies to picking up two yellow cards in a game - or a combination of that and black cards. So, if Connolly receives a black card or two yellow cards (during one game) in this championship, he'll receive a suspension too. The rule is as follows:

'Fixed Penalty for a cumulation of three orderings-offs for Cynical Behavior or Second Cautionable Infractions committed in the same year in the National Football League, the Inter-County Senior Football Championship or in a combination of both Competitions: 'A One Match Suspension applicable to the next game in the combination of the National Football League/Inter-County Senior Football Championship, even if that game occurs in the following year.'

Now, there is no mention that a repeat infraction after said suspension would result in another punishment - repeat infractions are cited for striking but not for cynical behaviour - so Connolly's slate should be wiped clean after the next black card. Dublin's Leinster championship pathway involves three games as follows (if and when they win):

• Carlow/Wexford (June 3)
• Offaly/Westmeath (June 25)
• Leinster final (July 16)

The provincial decider looks like it will pit the champions with either Meath and Kildare so it's fair to say that it's only going to get tougher for the Dubs as the season progresses. After that, they'll be in either the last 12 or last eight (we're being far too kind here). Would you really want Diarmuid Connolly walking a tightrope in August? You might just argue - the purist in all of us definitely will argue - that he should just behave himself and avoid any of those sanctions. The schemer (or the coach - sorry, Joe Brolly) in all of us would maybe think that missing him for the Leinster semis might not be the worst thing in the world just to have peace of mind for the rest of the championship campaign. Because let's be honest - this is a very real possibility, that Connolly could be caught up again. He's been black-carded in his last two games for Dublin - and they've only amounted to 45 minutes. https://twitter.com/ConanDoherty/status/861600561652797441 He was black-carded in the Leinster quarter-final for St. Vincent's back in November. He was yellow-carded in October in the All-Ireland final replay against Mayo. He was yellow-carded in the first game in September. Sent off, of course, the year before that in the semi-final. It's all well and good telling him to not get involved or to just tread more carefully but Jim Gavin would be wise to let him take one on June 3 against Carlow or Wexford once they have the back broken in that game. Otherwise, Dublin could be preparing for even bigger fixtures without their main man.