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23rd July 2017
06:37pm BST

The half back has been putting in monstrous performances for his county on their march back from defeat against Cork in the provincial championship and the thought of Waterford taking on either the Leinster or Munster kingpins without their merciless number 5 will sit uncomfortably with Derek McGrath on Sunday evening.
The incident which led to Tadhg de Búrca's red card is clouded with uncertainty though.
Harry Kehoe tries to stop the Waterford man from making a break up the line and de Búrca seemingly reacts by grabbing him and throwing him away.
https://twitter.com/eirSport/status/889169503527079937
It's difficult to decipher whether or not de Búrca grabbed Kehoe by the face guard or not, whether contact with it was intentional, and also how much blame the Wexford man should take for starting the flashpoint.
On The Sunday Game, the panel had sympathy with the Waterford man because his run was stopped and Anthony Daly rightly pointed out the inconsistencies in the punishments for face guard offences nowadays.
All of them did conclude that Derek McGrath and his team ought to appeal the red card and that they should stand a chance.
https://twitter.com/TheSundayGame/status/889168091338297344
It's inconclusive, it's a reaction to being blocked illegally but the linesman had the best view and his verdict could stand.
It would be a shame for Waterford and the man himself though to see the county have to compete in their biggest game of the year without Tadhg de Búrca.
Once again, the instigator prevails.Explore more on these topics: