McDonnell hopes Cadogan gets reprieve

Armagh forward Stevie McDonnell has defended Eoin Cadogan in Cork's Evening Echo newspaper today and hopes his red card will be rescinded to free the Rebel defender to play in the league final against Dublin.

The Armagh talisman tangled with Cadogan in the second half of last Sunday’s Allianz NFL Division One clash, and the Douglas dual star was sent off for swinging his arm back as he burst out of defence by referee Maurice Condon.

McDonnell appeared furious with Cadogan on the day, but has now said that it was a harsh sending off.

“There’s an element of physicality in gaelic games and I think he was harshly sent off and I wouldn’t like to see the lad miss out on a league final because of it.

“I’m a great believer in gaelic games being a man’s sport and I thought Eoin was hard done by ," he said, speaking on Joe Seward’s Square Ball show on 93.1 Life FM last night.

Cork have yet to reveal if they will appeal Cadogan’s dismissal, and were waiting until the referee’s report was filed before making a decision on what avenue to pursue.

McDonnell foresees a tough summer ahead for the Rebel footballers in their quest for consecutive All-Ireland titles, because they are now the team everyone wants to beat on the road to Sam.

“If they have the motivation then there is no reason why not, but if we met Cork in the championship I would still certainly fancy our chances against them.

“They have plenty of talented footballers but it’s going to be a very difficult year for Cork now because everybody knows what they’re about.”

Meanwhile, Cork boss Conor Counihan has urged transport companies to come up with cost-saving initiatives for supporters ahead of Sunday week’s meeting with Dublin in Croke Park.

Counihan has suggested supporters travelling to Croker should be accommodated as best they can by those providing a means of getting to the capital.

“People are in difficult times and it does need a bit of initiative from companies like Iarnród Eireann for example, who have benefited big time from Cork supporters over many, many years.

“From a purely commercial point of view it is up to them to make various packages attractive.

“Cork fans have always been very positive and supportive of our teams down through the years and I don’t see why they won’t travel in numbers again, provided that it is economical viable for them,” he added.