Cork City manager Ger Nash said the first-half dismissal of Harry Nevin was the key moment in his side's 2-0 defeat to Shamrock Rovers in the FAI Cup final.
The Leesiders were huge underdogs coming into the showpiece, but created the better chances in the goalless opening 45 minutes.
Shortly before the interval however, much of that good work was undone when Nevin was given his marching orders for a wild challenge on Josh Honahan.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Cork carved out further opportunities after the resumption, with a Freddie Anderson header forcing Rovers goalkeeper Ed McGinty into a superb save to keep it scoreless.
But the league champions increased the pressure, creating a raft of chances before Rory Gaffney made the breakthrough. Five minutes later his second put the tie beyond doubt to seal a domestic double.
Cork’s campaign ends in double disappointment with relegation and cup final heartache, with Nash left to lament the costly red card.
"I haven’t seen it back (sending off), but it was a key moment of course," he told RTÉ Sport. "They are hard to play against with 11 men, when you go down to 10 it’s difficult.
Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Cork City
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 9, 2025
🟥Cork City are down to 10 men as Harry Nevin is dismissed for a poor challenge on Josh Honohan
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"I feel for Harry, he’s a really good kid. He cares a lot about this club.
"I thought we were well in the game at that point. We started brightly, made some good opportunities, and same again at the start of the second half with 10 men."
While Cork were under the cosh for a lot of the second period, Nash was about to make changes in response to Gaffney’s opener before the Galway man struck again.
He feels that while 2025 will be considered a huge disappointment for the club overall, how they react will be telling.
"I’m really proud of the players," he said. "It’s a low dressing room, no doubt about it. They are devastated.
"We have to come back, and come back stronger. That’s what me and the staff are hoping to do."
