The Wexford county board met last night to discuss the ramifications of JJ Barrett's resignation from the post of football manager following his admission that he struck referee Michael Curley in the aftermath of his team's galling injury-time loss to Cavan.

In an eloquent interview with Brian Carthy on RTE radio yesterday, the former Kerry player described the incident as "the most cowardly thing I've ever done in my life."

Barrett tendered his resignation to the Wexford county board yesterday and stated that he unreservedly took responsibility for what occurred and willingly lay himself at the hands of the GAC.

He admitted to becoming momentarily incensed after Curley gave Cavan an injury-time penalty which Ronan Carolan converted thereby inflicting a one-point defeat on the Leinster side and denying them what would have been a historic re-emergence to the top flight of winter football.

"At half-time I said to the players: `Go out and die for your colours and for each other', and they very nearly did that. I was overcome when this late penalty happened," he said.

The Wexford team whittled down a 10-point deficit over the last half-hour and had established a two-point lead when Curley whistled for the late penalty.

Afterwards, Barrett joined a number of Wexford players and began heatedly remonstrating with the Galway official. It was during this exchange that Curley was struck.

Barrett was adamant that there was no other player within five yards of the referee and that he alone was responsible for the offence. He subsequently spoke of the "deep shame" which overcame him and effusively apologised to Curley, with whom he spoke with in the dressingroom following the incident.

"I spoke in a room alone with Mick Curley and that man is a big man, he accepted the situation and my apology unreservedly."

Barrett went on to say that his actions totally contradicted his long-standing attitude towards the treatment officials merited.

"I believe in tough physical football, but I always said that the referee's position is sacrosanct, that they are beyond reproach. What I did yesterday I cannot understand," he said.

As well as managing Wexford, Barrett is a noted commentator and analyst of gaelic games and he expressed the hope that Sunday's transgression would not permanently stain an association he expressed his love for.

"I want to be the last person in our association to ever do that again and I cannot express how sorry I am to Mick Curley, to the Wexford players and people and the county board and to the games I love deeply. I am absolutely sickened by what I have done and hope I haven't damaged the games."

Despite Barrett's obvious remorse, the GAC are likely to deal with the incident harshly, with a 12-month suspension very much a possibility. In theory, Barrett's action also holds potentially disastrous consequences for the county; Rule 137 (b) (3) states that any assault of a match official renders the entire county liable to disqualification.

Although out-going president Joe McDonagh has made the eradication of ill-discipline a priority during his tenure, the GAA has been haunted by a spate of unseemly incidents in recent months. Barrett's case is an exception in that he fully admits culpability. The GAC now await referee Michael Curley's report before meeting to rule on the incident.