Newbridge, Ireland – Derry secured a hard-fought victory over Kildare on Saturday night, prevailing 3-15 to 1-18 in a Division 2 encounter marred by a controversial early red card issued to Derry midfielder Conor Glass. The Oak Leaf County spent the vast majority of the match a man down, and even faced periods playing with 13 and 12 players, yet managed to overcome the numerical disadvantage.
The dramatic opening to the game saw Glass dismissed just six minutes in following an incident with Kildare’s Callum Bolton. Referee David Gough immediately brandished the red card after Bolton went to ground, a decision that quickly became the focal point of discussion. Footage of the incident has circulated online, showing minimal contact between the two players, leading to questions about the swiftness and severity of the call.
Speaking on RTÉ’s League Sunday, former Mayo star Cora Staunton expressed her surprise at the decision. “Conor Glass is actually being blocked as he’s going to go for a kickout,” Staunton said. “David Gough is very, very quick to take out the red card and give it. People can see when it’s slowed down here, there’s very little contact. I think it’s a very, very harsh red card for Conor Glass.”
Tyrone legend Peter Canavan echoed the sentiment, questioning whether players were too easily going to ground to influence officials. “They weren’t red cards,” Canavan stated. “Players do that, but should they be fooling officials in the way that they did there? I don’t think so.”
Despite the early setback, Derry dug deep. The dismissal of Glass was compounded later in the game with sin-bin offences for Conor Doherty and Niall Loughlin, leaving them with a significant disadvantage for extended periods. However, they found a way to grind out the result.
Shane McGuigan proved pivotal for Derry, leading the scoring with an impressive tally of 1-5. Lachlan Murray also contributed significantly, adding 1-3 to the scoreboard. For Kildare, Brian McLoughlin registered 1-2, while Ben Loakman impressed with 0-10, but their efforts weren’t enough to capitalize on their numerical advantage.
Derry manager Ciarán Meenagh admitted he hadn’t yet seen the footage of the Glass incident when speaking to Colm Parkinson after the match. The controversy surrounding the red card is likely to continue in the coming days, with the footage prompting widespread debate among fans, and pundits.
The win for Derry came in challenging conditions, but it was a testament to their resilience and determination. While the red card incident will undoubtedly dominate the headlines, the Oak Leaf County’s ability to overcome adversity and secure the victory speaks volumes about their character. The incident and subsequent debate highlight the fine margins and often subjective nature of officiating in Gaelic football.
The result sees Derry continue their campaign in Division 2, while Kildare will be left to rue missed opportunities and the impact of the controversial decision. The focus now shifts to how both teams will respond in their upcoming fixtures, and whether the incident involving Conor Glass will have a lasting impact on the league season.
