'No malice' - Loughrea boss Kelly vows to appeal late red card

Cullen Killeen was red carded in stoppage time of this afternoon's 13-point semi-final win over Slaughtneil.

Loughrea’s Cullen Killeen is consoled by Manager Tom Kelly. Pic: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Loughrea manager Tommy Kelly has vowed to launch an appeal against the straight red which rules Cullen Killeen out of the All-Ireland club SHC final.

Killeen was red carded in stoppage time of this afternoon's 13-point semi-final win over Slaughtneil.

Referee Johnny Murphy determined that the midfielder, rated by boss Kelly as the Man of the Match, swung out with the hurl after a tangle with Slaughtneil's Brendan Rogers.

As things stand, the teenager will miss next month's Croke Park decider against Ballygunner or St Martin's.

Asked if Loughrea will appeal, Kelly responded: "Oh 100 percent, 100 percent. He was Man of the Match there today, he was fantastic. He was absolutely outstanding. 

"The poor young lad is only 19 years of age. He's in absolute bits there now, the chance to play in an All-Ireland final with your club (gone). There's no bigger day than with your own and with your club."

The incident happened away from the play, in front of the main stand at Parnell Park and Kelly was close by.

"It was right in front of me, he was trying to release himself," claimed Kelly. "He was making a run himself and Brendan Rogers got in a tangle and he just tried to release himself and it's as simple as that. There is no malice in Cullen Killeen, everybody knows that."