Sligo to appeal O'Hara dismissal

July 19, 2006

Eamon O'Hara
Sligo have confirmed that they will be appealing Eamonn O'Hara's wrongful dismissal in Saturday's All-Ireland football qualifier defeat to Westmeath. The former All-Star received a second yellow card from Limerick referee Michael Ryan in the first period of extra-time in a case of 'mistaken identity'. At the time that O'Hara was being sent off, the Sligo player who should have been disciplined - Sean Davey - identified himself to the match officials. Unlike O'Hara, Davey had not been previously booked and would have stayed on the pitch. Many Sligo supporters believe O'Hara's dismissal had a major bearing on the outcome of a game which Westmeath won courtesy of a late goal from Gary Dolan. "There was an incident but I was 30 yards away and by the time I got there it was handbags. The referee called a free straight away and then spoke to the linesman and afterwards said I was reported for an off-the-ball incident with their corner forward," O'Hara explained. "Sean Davey told the ref it was him, our manager even told them. What really frustrated me was that the linesman or the referee could have changed their mind, but wouldn't." Sligo finished the game with 12 players, while Westmeath also had Donal O'Donoghue sent off on a second yellow card.

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