Monaghan star Darren Hughes reckons he was 'probably concussed' when he was sent off for ruffling Tiernan McCann's hair in 2015.
The veteran midfielder was infamously dismissed for lightly touching McCann's hair during Monaghan's narrow All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Tyrone.
McCann dropped theatrically to the ground late in the Red Hands' four-point win and Hughes was shown red though the sanction was subsequently overturned.
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Hughes, who started all seven games in this year's league for Monaghan, revealed on The GAA Social podcast that he believes he suffered concussion shortly before the incident occurred.
"Me and Richie Donnelly clashed heads a couple of minutes before and I was probably concussed," said Hughes whose main memory is the look of disgust on manager Malachy O'Rourke's face afterwards.
"I'll never forget Malachy's face when I got the red card, it was just a look of sheer disappointment. I was like, 'I've messed up here'. That was maybe six or eight minutes left in a two-point game.
"To let the team down when we're always talking about discipline and keeping 15 on the field, then in the dressing-room afterwards and whatever and you switch the phone on and it's hopping just about what happened.
"What I done and what I meant to do might be two different things as well! Once I seen the video I was like, 'Right, at least Malachy mightn't be too disappointed in me now'. But yeah, I'll never forget the look he gave me when I was walking off, that I'd let the team down and then I suppose there was the whole commotion afterwards.
"When I switched the phone on and saw (the incident) it was like, 'Jeez, actually it wasn't that bad. I didn't hit him'. Then it all just spiralled."
Hughes may ultimately have been fortunate to have been mistakenly sent off as Second Impact Syndrome (SIS) - which can occur following a repeat concussion - can be potentially fatal.
"I definitely wasn't thinking clearly anyway," said Hughes of the episode. "My memory is vague from it. You can see when I'm coming off, there's blood coming down the back of my neck. I probably was (concussed), yeah."
Hughes acknowledged that getting involved in the flashpoint was 'inexcusable' on his part, even if McCann 'was getting all the heat' afterwards for his reaction.
The duo have never discussed the incident since.
"I did hear he got my number but, here, the heat was on him," said Hughes.
"I wouldn't talk to him now over it, I don't know him. I would have loads of friends on the Tyrone panel and they know what I think. But as I say, no, it wouldn't bother me now."
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