The events surrounding the incident that saw Finn Harps goalkeeper Ciaran Gallagher having to be replaced in Bray on Friday night have again brought to light football’s concussion protocols.
In the 58th minute Gallagher raced from his goal as a long ball made its way towards his penalty area. As he attempted to head the ball clear, the Raphoe man collided with Ethan Boyle and tumbled to the floor.
Despite Gallagher being in clear discomfort and holding his head, Gary McCabe stroked in a fourth goal for Bray Wanderers in what turned out to be a 5-3 win.
A clip on last night’s Soccer Republic showed the referee, Anthony Buttimer, seemingly ready to blow up the play.
Buttimer had his whistle to his mouth and his hand raised, just as McCabe was making a connection – and the goal was allowed stand, much to Harps’ anger.
“It was a calamity,” was how Ollie Horgan, the Harps manager described it.
“You could complain about the clash of heads and he didn’t blow up. There was another clash of heads and he blew up later on – why didn’t he blow up for the other one?”
Soccer Republic analysts Stuey Byrne and Johnny McDonnell brought the issue to light in their discussions.
“It was very obvious that there was a serious issue with McCabe’s goal,” Byrne said.
“The ‘keeper is down holding his head straight away.
“There has been a lot of discussion with head injuries in other sports. That’s a really good example of, where once it happens the game should be stopped immediately.”
McDonnell agreed, adding: “The referee had a clear view. The goalkeeper was down with his hands on his head right away. The ‘keeper is in some distress and the game should have been stopped right away.”
Gallagher was assessed by Harps physio Colm O’Neill and subsequently withdrawn to be replaced by Harry Doherty.
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