It was a case of déjà vu for Down in Celtic Park this afternoon when they were the victims of yet another harsh sending off.

In April's Allianz League Division 2 final against Roscommon, the Mournemen had Benny McArdle wrongly dismissed (his red card was later rescinded) and today another of their half backs, Conaill McGovern, could feel aggrieved after he was brandished with a straight red card just after half-time following an incident involving Derry's Enda Lynn.

The young Burren wing back was given his marching orders after referee Eddie Kinsella consulted with his umpires. The sending off appeared harsh in the extreme with TV replays showing McGovern to have done little more than push his opponent away.

Ironically, McGovern's team-mate Peter Fitzpatrick received just a yellow card for what looked a far more dangerous challenge on Derry half back Kevin Johnson a short time later.

Down eventually lost the game by a point, 0-12 to 0-11, and will no doubt point to the McGovern dismissal as having a crucial bearing on the outcome.

Tweet

Most Read Stories