Coleraine boss Oran Kearney accepts James McLaughlin’s “crazy” red card was a major contributing factor in Sunday’s BetMcLean League Cup final defeat to Cliftonville at Windsor Park.
McLaughlin was given his marching orders for lashing out at Reds captain Chris Curran just a minute into extra time and with the scoreline still locked at 2-2.
It was a rash moment from the 32-year-old striker who had come on as a replacement for the injured Jamie Glackin in the 78th minute.
Read More: Cliftonville fans line streets to give team big send-off ahead of League Cup final
And Cliftonville, who had the bit between their teeth after fighting back from 2-0 down, took full advantage with further goals from Joe Gormley and Paul O’Neill who bagged two apiece in the 4-3 win.
Speaking to reporters half an hour after the final whistle, Kearney said: "I haven't seen it back yet or spoken to James at this moment in time.
“But if he has struck the player then it's crazy from that point of view because it makes life really, really hard for us. It had a huge impact.
“We're all big boys and at full time we spoke about being in this scenario before and what was needed. The momentum had shifted (in Cliftonville's favour) and we said that to the players.
"But the key thing was we weren't out of the cup yet. There were 30 minutes to go and win it or a penalty shootout to go and win it.
“The aim was to slowly but surely break the momentum Cliftonville had at that point and try and get a foothold again.
“But when the red card comes a minute into extra-time it literally blows that apart. It is another momentum swing and another shot in the arm for Cliftonville rather than us.”
McLaughlin received his red card after getting involved in a melee by the sideline following a Jamie McDonagh challenge on teammate Josh Carson.
A bit of push and shove ended up with the Coleraine forward appearing to strike Curran across the face, the Reds skipper ending up on the ground.
Midfielder Curran, who went on to lift the trophy, said: “It was just a mad moment. I saw Josh Carson hauling Jamie (McDonagh) off the ground and I went over to settle it down.
“James is a great lad and, to be fair, we were grappling with each other for a second. I had a hold of his jersey and it was just a moment of madness.”
The fact Coleraine had looked in control at 2-0 up, thanks to goals from Matthew Shevlin and Stephen Lowry, until Gormley and O’Neill forced extra-time with goals in the 74th and 91st minutes was a bitter pill for Kearney.
“It’s raw and very, very hard to take,” said the Bannsiders boss. "For 65 or 70 minutes it was perfect in relation to how we started, how we managed the game and how we kicked on.
"The quality of the two goals we scored - how they'll not be remembered as match winning goals in a cup final is very hard to take.
"Lyndon's assist, Matthew's finish and Stephen's goal as well. The quality of our two goals was brilliant and I couldn’t really have asked for any more at that point.
“The manner of the two goals we conceded (in normal time) was really poor and it’s really hard to take in respect of our performance up until that point in the game.”
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