Roscommon manager Kevin McStay in hot water over sideline altercation with linesman

Kevin McStay, who is looking at a lengthy sideline ban after appearing to push and throw a football at a linesman, believes match officials should come under the same scrutiny as players and managers.

The Roscommon manager, unhappy with how one of his players had been treated, confronted linesman Niall Cullen just before the call for half-time, placing his hand on the Fermanagh official’s chest and pushing him.

Is Kevin McStay with his hands on the linesman and pushing him not the same offense as Dermot Connolly got suspended for last year ??? pic.twitter.com/BB53xmy7Sw

— Darren Chambers (@dmcambrois) July 21, 2018

When the whistle sounded for the interval break, McStay picked up a football and threw it forward, hitting a linesman on the back of the head.

The Roscommon boss said this was an accident.

Both actions saw referee Ciarán Branagan instruct McStay to remain in the dugout for the second period.

Minor physical interference, as Diarmuid Connolly was found guilty of last year, carries a 12-week suspension, while it is 48 weeks for ‘any type of assault on a referee, linesman, umpire or sideline official’.

“We are all under pressure, maybe I was more aggressive than I should be. Fine, if [Croke Park] 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?” McStay asked.

“There were two dreadful calls at the end of the first-half. Michael Murphy pushes one of our lads on the solo and kicks it over. It should have been a free-out for a barge.

“And then the one before half-time. Everyone in the stadium knew that was a free. Ciarán was apparently blind-sided and I totally accept that. But the linesman wasn’t blind-sided; he had a perfect view of it, for me. I asked him to relay the free, but he just blanked me and essentially told me, ‘get out of my space.’

“You (Managers) are fighting for your life here and we are all trying to get a win. To be just dismissed like that isn’t very pleasant.

“We are all doing the best we can for our teams. Just to be dismissed… that was the bit that annoyed me the most.

“I was obviously a bit aggressive to him, he felt, I threw a ball, I had no intention of hitting him and apparently it landed on his shoulder or head.

“That was noted to me and I came in and apologised at half-time, and it was accepted as far as I know. But then the referee said, ‘I am going to have to go with my linesman that you were overly aggressive,’ and he asked me to sit down for the second half, which was disappointing.”