Key Linfield player set to be available for Glentoran clash after 'farcical' red card appeal
Linfield defender Darragh Leahy is set to be available for Saturday’s ‘Big Two’ clash against rivals Glentoran after the Blues confirmed they’ve appealed the decision to uphold a red card shown in a defeat to Carrick Rangers earlier this month.
Leahy, who joined the Windsor Park club in January, was given his marching orders after only 36 minutes at Taylors Avenue on March 20.
The 27-year-old was adjudged to be the last man when shown a straight red card for dragging down Carrick attacker Joe Moore as he looked to run through on goal.
Linfield went on to lose the match 2-0 – a result which all but ended their Premiership title defence hopes with David Healy’s side 11 points adrift of leaders Larne with only five matches left to play.
An initial Linfield challenge over Leahy’s dismissal was unsuccessful, but they’ve now submitted an official appeal in response to the outcome.
With Leahy’s suspension deferred until a hearing over the appeal, the former Dundalk defender could take his place in Healy’s side at The Oval on Saturday afternoon.
Leahy has made 11 Premiership appearances since arriving in the Irish League and also played 120 minutes in their BetMcLean Cup final win over the Glens at Windsor Park earlier this month.
In an update, Linfield posted: “Linfield can confirm that, following the straight red card issued to Darragh Leahy last Friday evening, the club formally challenged the decision.
“That challenge was reviewed by a disciplinary panel and subsequently upheld. The club has now submitted an official appeal in response to this outcome. Darragh’s suspension will be deferred pending the outcome of the appeal.”
Linfield will be without key midfielder Kyle McClean on Saturday after he picked up a fifth yellow card of the season in the same fixture.
Healy was left furious with cards dished out to both Leahy and McClean – calling it “farcical”.
"I thought some of the decisions tonight were farcical, absolute farce,” he told the club’s media channel. “I’m not surprised.
"I watch a lot of games in the league, I’ve seen a number of games over the last number of weeks and months, seen other managers be heavily critical of some of the decisions, standard and quality.
"I know everybody else will say we need referees to play the game, to get the games on...if the referees go on strike then we don’t have football.
"That’s certainly something we don’t want to happen, but the referees need encouraged.
"I’ll hold my hands up tonight and say we got it wrong, we lost, but I thought it was farcical tonight.”