Decision to reject Daire Cregg's red card appeal ‘a crazy call’

Lee Keegan has labelled the decision by the Central Hearings Committee to reject Daire Cregg’s appeal against his red card in New York “a crazy call”.

As it stands, Cregg will miss Sunday’s Connacht SFC semi-final against Mayo, and the former Footballer of the Year — writing in his RTÉ Online column — felt that the punishment didn’t fit the crime.

“The red card in Gaelic Park was extremely harsh and the common sense approach would be to overturn it.

“I don't know if this is a new stance from the disciplinary authorities when it comes to appeals, given that Ger Brennan was unable to overturn his ridiculously severe 12-game ban.

“Either way the thing has gone draconian and Cregg, unless he appeals further, will be a huge loss to Roscommon,” he said.

Acknowledging that the rivalry between Mayo and Roscommon contained plenty of needle, particularly among the supporters, Keegan felt that much of it was fuelled by the Rossies.

“In my view, a lot of it is powered by the Roscommon belief that they're painted as the third wheel in Connacht and their sense that they don't get the respect they deserve.

“Arguably, that is justified seeing as we're talking about a Division One team, who've won Connacht regularly enough over the decades.

“And whenever they do win the Nestor Cup, they're never slow in reminding you that they have it — on a weekly basis, usually, for the next 12 months.

“I expect the Roscommon players and supporters to bring a characteristic intensity to the game against Mayo.”