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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Vincent Whelan

RTE pundit Sean Cavanagh slams Joe McQuillan's decision to send off Conor McKenna as 'disgraceful'

Sean Cavanagh didn't pull any punches in his assessment of how Joe McQuillan handled the melee late on between Tyrone and Fermanagh.

The Red Hand legend said it was a 'disgraceful decision' to single Conor McKenna out for a red card when several Fermanagh players also played prominent roles in the ugly scenes that marred Tyrone's opening round win.

He blasted: "I thought it was a disgraceful decision. I think there was a lot of things wrong here.

"The ball goes in and Conn Kilpatrick catches it - yeah it wasn't a mark. I think Joe McQuillan could have helped him out and told him it wasn't a mark quicker.

McKenna had his shirt practically ripped off (©INPHO/Bryan Keane)

"I think he maybe was fouled and then the craic starts and there's the wrestling match starts.

"We see James McMahon with his hand in Conn's face. Not a nice place to be and didn't look like a natural place to be either.

"Conor McKenna sees that and gets involved. He sees his teammate has just been fouled badly on the ground and there's players around him."

At that stage Colm O'Rourke interjected to agree that McKenna was only doing what any other player would in trying to back up a teammate when he's in a vulnerable position and outnumbered by opponents.

The Meath native felt since McKenna walked, the three Ernesiders should also have been sent off going by the 'contributing to a melee' line in the rulebook.

An incredulous Cavanagh then asked what did McKenna really do to get sent off only for O'Rourke to point out that he had rugby tackled someone and dumped them on the ground which was probably what sealed his fate.

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