O'Neill red card to be rescinded

Tyrone's Stephen O'Neill is expected to have his red card, earned in Saturday's Ulster SFC final replay, rescinded after referee Michael Collins admitted to an error.

The Cork official sent off the Red Hands' top scorer on 61 minutes for a second yellow card offence - a shoulder charge on Armagh defender Andy Mallon - but Collins is understood to admitted yesterday that the dismissal was a mistake.

Fr Seamus Gardiner, the spokesperson for the National Referees Committee, insisted Collins "had misread his notes and issued a second yellow card mistakenly" to O'Neill, who had only received a ticking, not a booking, for his first foul.

While O'Neill's red card would not see him face suspension, Tyrone manager Mickey Harte is certain to appeal the sending-off of substitute Peter Canavan, which happened eight minutes previous to the O'Neill incident.

Errigal Ciaran legend Canavan will be banned for four weeks if the card stands.

Harte, who watched his side slip to a 0-11 to 0-13 loss, said: "We were in control at the time we sent on the two players - Peter Canavan and Owen Mulligan - whom we thought would enhance that control. Unfortunately, one of them didn't get a chance. We'll definitely be appealing against Peter's sending-off."

Canavan was given a straight red card for going in hard on Armagh captain Kieran McGeeney and sparking a mass brawl, only 30 seconds after coming off the bench.

Armagh's Ciaran McKeever was dismissed for a second yellow card for his involvement in the same incident. Meanwhile, the Ulster Council is investigating a confrontation between a Tyrone supporter and McKeever, who was allegedly accosted by the man when walking back to the Armagh bench.

Although disappointed about the manner of the defeat, Harte conceded: "The way they (Armagh) went about their business is to be admired and respected. We had it within our capacity to win both the drawn game and this one but we didn't do it.

"We have to give Armagh credit for the way they stuck at it."

Tyrone were last night paired with Ulster rivals Monaghan in the fourth round of the All-Ireland qualifiers.