O’Callaghan: I’m innocent

FORMER eircom Player of the Year, George O’Callaghan has protested his innocence after being sent off in Ipswich Town’s 1-0 defeat to Watford on Saturday.

The former Cork City star, making his full debut for the Tractor Boys in the FA Cup Fifth Round tie, received a straight red in first half stoppage time from referee Steve Bennett.

O’Callaghan was adjudged to have kicked Watford centre- back Danny Shittu after the two had challenged near the touchline. The Irishman insisted there had been no intent on his part.

He said: “The player came in on me and we ended up on the floor and I just flicked out at him to get him off.

“It was nothing, just a reaction to say ‘get off’ that happens time and time again in the game. If anything he caught me but the referee said he was sending me off for stamping.

“How could I stamp him if I’m on the floor?

“It was definitely nothing malicious and I feel it was really harsh.

“But I feel I have let the players, the gaffer and the fans down because the end result is that I was sent-off. At the time we were right on top and we could have gone on to reach the quarter finals of the FA Cup and that would have been a massive boost to the club.”

Ipswich manager Jim Magilton agreed: “George O’Callaghan’s sending off was harsh, it was a tangling of two players coming together.”

“In football, as in life, you don’t always get what you deserve. “I’ve seen Danny Haynes’ goal that was disallowed and the linesman was dozing. It was a goal.

Damien Francis broke Ipswich Town’s defiance with a late winner to decide the game.