Shamrock Rovers' manager Mick Byrne yesterday said the club would defend midfielder Marc Kenny over his alleged head-butting of Bohemians' Dean Martin during Sunday's Premier Division game at Dalymount Park.

That's contrary to Byrne's initial reaction after the match when he told reporters that the club would fine Kenny if the referee's report indicted him of the offence.

Byrne has said that the club will discipline Kenny for getting involved, but objected strongly to the way the match officials handled the incident.

It has emerged that Kenny was red-carded after the match and now faces a possible suspension of up to eight matches if the National League's disciplinary committee deem him guilty of violent conduct.

Kenny actually won a free-kick as he challenged for the ball with Bohemians' Kevin Hunt which started the whole row in the 27th minute.

Kenny caught Hunt with his right elbow in the tangle and that incensed Martin who squared up to Kenny. Their heads met and Martin fell to the ground. However, Cork referee Aidan O'Regan took no action and all three players played on, the Bohemains' pair after receiving treatment.

"I didn't see the incident," said Byrne. " I didn't know anything about it until I was called into the referee's room after the game and told that the fourth official (Ciaran Delaney) was putting in his report that Marc was given a red card.

"I've spoken to Marc and he said it was handbags at 10 paces. Marc said he did not head-butt him. He said that when he was fouled a Bohemians player came flying up to him and they squared up to each other.

"Their heads went together but there was no head-butt. The lad made a meal of it and then got up and played on.

"We'll be putting a case forward in Marc's defence. I don't know why the fourth official waited until the end of the match to inform the referee.

It's a farce to give a red card after the game for something that supposedly happened in the first-half. We'll take this all the way."

Brian Kerr has had a last minute withdrawal from his under-17 Republic of Ireland squad that flew out for a six-nation tournament in Israel yesterday.

Tottenham Hotspur-based goalkeeper, Gavin Kelly, has pulled out for family reasons and has been replaced by Peterborough United's Daniel Connor.

Ireland begin their challenge with a game against Belgium this afternoon and then meet Turkey, Israel, Hungary and Yugoslavia over the next five days.