Jonny Cooper has given his approval to football's black card even if it ended his interest in Saturday's All-Ireland final replay after just 19 minutes. The problem, says Cooper, is the way the rule is enforced rather than the rule itself.
The Dublin defender also suggesting referees would be better served by some assistance from sideline officials when it comes to showing such cards.
“It was tough to get the card so early, though fundamentally I probably agree with the actual rule itself,” says Cooper. “Maybe it’s just the implementation, of the way in which it’s enforced. Officials have the tough job of doing that; it’s probably not as clear as it could be all the time, especially in real time.
“Maybe it should be looked at, but maybe giving the officials more of a helping hand as opposed to changing the rule or getting rid of it.”
Cooper was black-carded by referee Maurice Deegan after 19 minutes of Saturday's replay, committing what was deemed to be a "cynical" foul on Mayo's Donie Vaughan.
In his GAA column in this newspaper this week, Donegal All-Ireland winning manager Jim McGuinness said: "I remember jotting a note down also: 'Jonny Cooper absolutely excellent. Best player on field. Taking game to Mayo. Getting in front of his man and really transitioning'. Then I looked up and I couldn't see Cooper anywhere, and James Horan told me he had just been black- carded. I couldn't believe it.
“Technically Cooper’s was a black card. But the ball wasn’t even in play at the time: it was a nothing-moment in the middle of the park.” McGuinness then concluded: “It [the black card] has to go. The sin bin is not a perfect solution, but at least it doesn’t ruin a player’s day or a team’s chances.”
Harsh punishment
Cooper agrees that being sent to the stand after 19 minutes for a relatively minor offence was harsh punishment, yet praised the man [Davy Byrne] who came in for him.
"Obviously you have no part to play after that, and you are putting it all in the lads' hands. So Davy Byrne and the rest of the lads stepped up to the plate and filled the jersey with everything they could have."
What is certain is that Cooper is trying hard not to let the incident take from his third All-Ireland title, especially given how hard he and the rest of Dublin team went about earning it. “To a man we had to step up. It was two monumental games against Mayo, and a point was the only difference in the end. It is satisfying, and we’re full of pride.
Give their heart
“In fairness whenever you play Mayo out on the pitch, afterwards you are spent. That’s what Mayo give, they give their heart to it, and it’s very intense, up and down, very demanding physically. I only played those few minutes so I was only watching in but it looked demanding and that’s what you get against Mayo.”
Despite the fact his final was cut so short Cooper rates this year’s success the best yet for Dublin.
“They are all different and they are special in different ways, but I think this year was probably the most satisfying in that there were a lot of questions asked of us. Especially from a defensive point of view, we should have been this and should have been that, and should have had this player and should have had that player and everything else. People were putting us on the back foot since day one.”
That Dublin defence also have Jack McCaffrey to welcome back next year, and possibly Rory O’Carroll, which can only make for a more competitive unit.
“Yeah, but you are being pushed every single day for nine months... What you are doing, what you are eating, how you are sleeping, and what you are doing to give into the group. It’s extremely challenging, but as I mentioned earlier on it’s extremely satisfying as well.”
