Whenever Armagh and Tyrone meet, you can be certain that it will be a feisty affair. The Ulster neighbours have played out some exhilarating contests down through the years, some of which have overstepped the mark in terms of the physicality on show.
The most recent example that springs to mind came in February of last year, when five players were sent off due to a brawl that broke out between the teams during a league game.
It would have been hoped that red cards would not play a role in the All-Ireland round robin fixture featuring the two counties this evening. However, Armagh's star player would be given his marching orders just before the interval.
Armagh star Rian O'Neill sent off against Tyrone
Tyrone had the better of the play in the opening half of the game in Omagh, although they would call on goalkeeper Niall Morgan to make two important saves in the first 20 minutes or so.
The home side were on top, although the game was still very much in the balance when Armagh were reduced to 14 men around the half hour mark.
Rian O'Neill was the player to be sent off, with the forward receiving a straight red card for an off the ball incident. It wasn't initially clear why he was sent to the line, although replays suggested he was given his marching orders as a result of driving the head of an opposition player into the ground with his knee.
🟥 Red card for Rian O'Neill and now Armagh are facing uphill battle
Moments before Peter Harte hit post, the Armagh full-forward got involved in an altercation
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Referee Martin McNally showed little hesitation in brandishing the red card after consulting with his linesman, who had originally spotted the infraction.
Speaking on RTÉ at halftime, both Peter Canavan and Ciaran Whelan said O'Neill could have no complaints with the decision.
Whelan: The knee is on the head. Any contact with the head in this way, you can't really complain. The linesman called him out. Rian plays on the edge and it's a part of his game that he needs to pull back on...
Canavan: I agree with Ciaran. Rian O'Neill can have no excuses for that there. When he sees that again, he would be very disappointed with himself.
In the same incident, Tyrone can count themselves lucky. Michael O'Neill was guilty of a hand trip, more of a rugby tackle, and he got away with it. Tyrone maybe got the break on that occasion.
Joanne Cantwell would confirm that O'Neill was sent off due 'acting dangerous in any way towards an opponent'.
Armagh's disciplinary record has left them down at times in recent seasons, something they are going to have work on if they are to get over the hump and contend for All-Irelands.
They're doing themselves no favour with this sort of incident.
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