CARGIN’S Tomas McCann won his appeal against his controversial red card he incurred against Glen during last month’s Ulster Club SFC quarter-final clash at Celtic Park.
The former Antrim ace was sent off for what seemed like a fair tackle on Glen attacker Conleith McGuckian – but Cavan referee Conor Dourneen surprised everyone by brandishing a red five minutes before half-time.
On Monday night, a disciplinary committee supported McCann's appeal against the decision.
Cargin’s numerical disadvantage for roughly 44 minutes, including stoppage-time, undoubtedly had a big bearing on the game, which the Derry champions went on to win by four points.
McCann being vindicated four weeks after the event will probably be greeted with derision by the player himself or the Antrim champions who believed they could give the provincial series a rattle this year, but were ultimately denied that opportunity.
McCann, who was voted Player of the Year in Antrim this year, had been in brilliant scoring form – but when he was dismissed, Cargin immediately lost their biggest scoring threat, their chief creator of chances and trusted free-taker.
Afterwards, a livid Ronan Devlin, the Cargin boss, said the Cavan whistler had made a “howler” while in an Irish News interview 24 hours later, McCann said he “could not believe” the referee's decision.
“It was just a mental decision," McCann said. "The referee asked for my name, I gave him it and then he pulled out the red card. I just thought at the time: ‘This is madness’.”
Glen marched on and on Sunday reclaimed their Ulster crown on following a nail-biting win over Monaghan champions Scotstown.
