A player who had been red-carded contributed to the equalising point that sent the Mayo-Leitrim Connacht FBD League clash to a historic penalty shoot-out.

Mayo won the spot-kick competition 4-1 at Carrick-on-Shannon to progress to the semi-final of the competition next weekend where they will face Galway.

But there was controversy just before the final whistle when Dean McGovern gave the last pass in the move which ended with Damien Moran’s point to level the game at 2-13 apiece deep into stoppage time.

The only problem was that McGovern was on his way off the pitch at the time having been sent off by referee James Molloy.

McGovern had been shown a black card earlier in the game, spending ten minutes in the sin bin, and then picked up a late yellow which results in a red.

Evan Regan scores the winning penalty against Leitrim

There’s echoes of Dublin’s Charlie Redmond in the 1995 All-Ireland football final, who was sent off in the second half against Tyrone by referee Paddy Russell, but stayed on the field.

Only minutes later did Russell realise and send him from the field. The Dubs went on to lift Sam Maguire and it led the GAA to introduce yellow and red cards.

McGovern, of course, shouldn’t have touched the ball as he left the field, though his involvement ensured dramatic finale.