‘That to me seems farcical’ – Jim McGuinness hits out at black card 3v3 structure rule

Galway  ran out seven-point winners in Pearse Stadium despite a Matthew Tierney first-half red card and two black cards in the second half.

Padraic Joyce said Galway would consider appealing the red card which Matthew Tierney was shown in the first half against Donegal. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Donegal manager Jim McGuinness has labelled the rule for the 3v3 structure after black or red cards as ‘farcical’ after Galway were able to keep one player up while down to 13 players in Salthill.

The home outfit ran out seven-point winners in Pearse Stadium despite a Matthew Tierney first-half red card and two black cards in the second half. During that spell, Galway were allowed to attack and defend with 11 outfield players, despite being two men down. They opted to leave one up when defending and occasionally left two back while attacking. Donegal, however, had to keep three.

“Galway had a man sent off, two black cards and they had one man up and we had to leave three men back,” said McGuinness post-match. “That to me seems farcical. I don't know what to say about that, to be honest with you. That's a non-intended consequence on the extreme side of things.

“But anyway, it made not one difference to the game that Galway had a man sent off and two black cards. It didn't make a jot of a difference to the game because they were able to attack the way they were attacking up to that point.

“That's definitely something that would certainly need to be looked at.” 

The Football Review Committee continue to monitor the new rules and changes can be made at any point. Would McGuinness like to see any tweaks?

“I think you need to be very careful when you're asked a question like that because a lot of the time answers are taken out of context,” he replied. 

“But I do think what happened today was a bit farcical. I think when the opposition have a man sent off and they have two black cards and you have to leave three back to mark one man, there's something not right there. So clearly that would have to be looked at.

“In the main, I've said it in earlier rounds, whatever they decide to go with, we'll coach to the rules.” 

He confirmed that Michael Murphy, Ryan McHugh and Patrick McBrearty were just rested. Galway, meanwhile, were without John Daly (knee), Cillian McDaid (knee), Paul Conroy (flu) and Damien Comer, who Pádraic Joyce hopes will play in the final rounds of the league.

Joyce also suggested they would consider appealing Tierney’s red card. The forward was sent off for an attempted shoulder on Hugh McFadden.

“It was right in front of me so I saw it. Obviously, Mattie came in to hit a shoulder on Hugh but his head ducked down.

“Was there contact with it? Probably a little bit. Was it an unfortunate red card? I’d say, yes. Donegal on the sideline were roaring for a red card, which they got.

“We’ll look at it; we might appeal it, we’ll see where it goes. But look it again, Mattie’s not a dirty player but I do understand the duty of care – it’s in rugby, I think it’s duty of care for head injuries and making contact with the head, I get all that. 

"But again, Mattie’s distraught there because he didn’t go in with the intention of causing damage to anyone’s head. I spoke to the referee at half-time, and he said there was contact with the head, that’s why he gave the red, so I have to accept that.”