Steven McDonnell has defended Niall Morgan after the Tyrone goalkeeper appeared to goad Down's Darragh O'Hanlon after he missed a goal chance during the first half of last Sunday's Ulster SFC final.

Former Dublin star Alan Brogan led the criticism of Morgan, claiming in a newspaper column that "that sort of behaviour is not what you see from Stephen Cluxton", but McDonnell feels too much has been made of the incident.

The ex-Armagh attacker told the Irish News: "It's an Ulster final where there's a lot at stake. It's a heat of the moment thing, a reaction that happens. It happens out the field all the time during matches, so I wouldn't be too concerned or worried about it if I was Niall Morgan.

"It's something that happens in football. It's here to stay for a while. I'd love to see it eradicated from the game and it's difficult for measures to stamp it out of the game."

McDonnell took issue with Brogan's assertion that Stephen Cluxton wouldn't engage in such behaviour.

"I've seen Stephen Cluxton react the wrong way in games. I remember he punched Jason McAteer in a charity match when he wasn't getting it all his own way.

"He got sent off for striking out at me in 2003. Cluxton is no angel," he added.

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