Kerry's Kieran Donaghy has defended the performance of referee Eddie Kinsella in the wake of last Sunday's National League clash in Killarney.

The Kingdom came out on-top of a bad tempered game that featured twelve cards, eight of which went to Dublin, including a late red for Mick Fitzsimons.

Afterwards, Dubs boss Jim Gavin suggested that Kinsella's decision-making had been influenced by the Kerry players, but Donaghy has told the Irish Examiner that Kinsella "did a great job" managing a notoriously difficult tie, adding that "when the cards needed to be given out, he gave them out."

"Kerry and Dublin is notoriously feisty, I thought Eddie and his officiating team did a great job. There were a few skirmishes here and there. I thought he handled it very well," said Donaghy.