All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Super 8s Group Two, Round Two: Roscommon 0-12 Donegal 0-20
KEVIN McStay has pleaded his innocence after the ball he threw hit a linesman on the head as the Roscommon and Donegal players made their way off the field at the half-time interval of Saturday's Super 8s clash.
The Roscommon boss is almost certain to face censure when he confronted nearby linesman Niall Cullen after his corner-forward Diarmuid Murtagh was felled by Donegal’s Stephen McMenamin on the stroke of half-time.
Clearly agitated by the incident, television pictures showed McStay putting a hand on the linesman and beseeching him to “do his job”.
No foul was awarded and referee Ciaran Branagan blew his whistle for half-time.
Seconds later, McStay scooped a ball up with his hand and threw it in the general direction of the play, which landed on Cullen’s head.
McStay was sent to the stands for the second half. The Roscommon boss revealed afterwards he apologised to the officials during the half-time interval but was still banished to the stands for the restart.
“I was throwing it (the ball) to where I thought he was giving the free and then Liam [McHale, Roscommon assistant] said he had blown it up for half-time,” McStay explained.
“Of course that further agitated me. We are all under pressure, maybe I was more aggressive than I should be.
“I’d no intention of hitting him [with the ball] and it landed on his shoulder or head. When that was made known to me I came in and apologised at half-time, and it was accepted as far as I know.
“But then the referee told me he would have to go with his linesman and that I was overly aggressive and I was asked to sit down for the second half, which was disappointing.”
The former RTE pundit faces an extended time in the stands far beyond next month’s final Super 8s game against Dublin at Croke Park.
Minor physical interference with an official [i.e. laying a hand on], which McStay’s infraction appears to fit, carries a minimum 12-week ban.
Speaking after Roscommon’s eight-point defeat to Donegal in Hyde Park on Saturday, McStay said: “If they do something with me it’s no big deal, but why don’t they do something with the officials? Why don’t they tidy that up and see how they are performing?
“I’m out there every weekend with you guys asking me questions, we are out there on the TV and my team is out there and we are all under scrutiny. But the lads that are making huge decisions over who wins and loses...”
Last season, Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney was hit with a 12-week ban after verbally abusing sideline official Joe McQuillan.
McStay was angered by the “dismissive” attitude of the linesman after a couple of first half incidents.
“Everybody in the stadium knew that was a free [on Diarmuid Murtagh]. Ciaran [Branagan] was totally blind-sided and I totally accept that but his linesman wasn’t blind-sided and he had a perfect view.
“This happens all the time. He just blanked me and told me to get out his space. But when you’re fighting for your life here; we’re all trying to get a win, we’re all working so hard at it. To be just dismissed like that isn’t very pleasant.”
A few minutes earlier, man-of-the-match Michael Murphy wasn’t blown up for fending off a Roscommon defender before pointing – another incident that bothered McStay.
“Michael Murphy’s point where he was pushing one of our lads out of the way on the solo and kicks it over. Good man, Michael. Fair play. He’s a big strong man.
“I’m not giving off to him as I’ve huge admiration for him but it should have been a free out for a barge, or a leading hand.”
