Frustration no excuse for black and red cards - McGuinness

Jim McGuinness was happy with his side's comeback against Galway despite playing more than half of the game with a man less after a black and red card.

Donegal drew 1-17 to 0-20 with Galway in Fr Tierney Park, having come from six points down on the 43rd minute as Donegal played the remainder of the match with 14 men.

But Peadar Mogan’s late two-pointer ensured they stayed unbeaten in Division 1 as they sit on nine points and are still top of the table.

Michael Langan was black-carded on 32 minutes after Stephen McMenamin was dragged down by Oisin Mac Donnacha, with the Donegal captain barging into the corner forward in retaliation.

And just after the return of the St Michael’s man, Stephen McMenamin was given a second yellow card on 43 minutes for a foul on Cian Hernon, having already been yellow carded for a collision with John Maher in the first half.

McGuinness had no qualms with the decisions, and while he could tell his players were frustrated with the decisions, he didn’t defend their actions.

“There were a lot of mistakes and handling errors, but, taking a step back, we’re very happy we managed to eke out a draw. 

“We were down to 14 men twice, for 40 minutes in total, and to find a way from six points down in a very physical game, it was brilliant to find a way to get a point on the board.”

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“The two incidents that happened, you can’t defend them. Physical games like that, the blood is going to be up there, but that’s the moments where you have to hold your discipline and do the right thing.

“But I would say a lot of it is born out of frustration for the boys, a lot of the decisions that were 50/50 there, and once they’re not going, then the blood is up, and you can go into an area where you shouldn’t go.

“I’m not defending that, but there were a couple of ones there, Michael (Murphy) was fouled in the middle of the park, and there was no free kick.

“Michael Langan was taken out of it in a transitional moment, and there was no decision on that either.

“There was a number of ones like that there that are frustrating on the sideline and for the boys, but you can’t move off track.

“It was two physical teams going at it, so you have to play the element and, to a certain extent, to play the referee as well.”