Dublin secured yet another win in the Allianz football league on Saturday night.
The 1-10 to 0-7 victory was based on a supreme defensive effort, as well as the ability to pick off scores at key moments against a massed Donegal rearguard.
The game took some time to kick into life, and one incident in the second half has a lot of people talking.
Michael Murphy and James McCarthy both received second yellow cards for their role in an incident after the break.
Murphy received his second booking for sliding into a tackle with the Dublin half-back, which McCarthy did not take too kindly to.
However it was an incident afterwards involving McCarthy, and his fingers in the face of a Donegal opponent, that has a lot of people vexed tonight.
There is no doubt the incident looks bad slowed down, and in screenshots, but the fact that the player in question made no allegation of gouging at the time, or that no other Donegal players drew the attention of the referee to the incident should be noted.
Aaron Kernan and Senan Connell didn’t believe the Dublin man was in the wrong.
.@SenanConnell & @AaronKernan don’t believe James McCarthy attempted an eye-gouge tonight. #DUBvDON #AllianzLeagues https://t.co/Z8jKDYvS9R
— Setanta Sports (@SetantaSports) March 26, 2016
But some GAA fans clearly did.
Eye gouging by James McCarthy.. Probably no ban.. Paul Galvin gets 6 months for putting his finger in someone's mouth..
— John Halpin (@halpin36) March 26, 2016
James McCarthy should get three months for eye gouging but he won't #DUBvDON incredibly dangerous thing to do to anyone!
— JFT97 🇯🇴🇮🇪 (@davidrafferty10) March 26, 2016
#DUBvDON James McCarthy has a couple of questions 2answer tonight.Has he been taking lessons from "filthy" Philly Mc pic.twitter.com/pe4mngm1go
— Brian McMahon (@Brian_Mc_Mahon) March 26, 2016
James McCarthy may be in a bit of bother over this incident – thumb awful close to a Donegal players eye #DUBvDON pic.twitter.com/xjlo5bfgag
— Peter Farrell (@PeterFarr_) March 26, 2016
Although some came to his defence.
@SetantaSports Embarrassing commentary suggesting James McCarthy was attempting to eye gouge, zero malus in it. Not a mention of Mr.Murphy
— Barry O'Carroll (@BarryOCarroll) March 26, 2016
And Rory Gallagher felt the incident was nothing to be worried about.
https://twitter.com/DaveMcIntyreNT/status/713832300857966592
A feeling shared by Jim Gavin
“We’ll just take it and move on.” – Jim Gavin on James McCarthy’s sending off. #DUBvDON #AllianzLeagues https://t.co/hFADGKnnFg
— Setanta Sports (@SetantaSports) March 26, 2016
