PIC: Dublin’s James McCarthy accused of eye-gouging in win over Donegal

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. https://twitter.com/halpin36/status/713822779045490688 https://twitter.com/davidrafferty10/status/713825115260190723 https://twitter.com/Brian_Mc_Mahon/status/713823133971714048 https://twitter.com/PeterFarr_/status/713822307026931718 Although some came to his defence. https://twitter.com/AsportsA1/status/713822271589203973 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