Armagh could have easily found themselves down to 14 men just minutes into their All-Ireland SFC win against Derry, according to Sean Cavanagh.
The Orchard County made a bright start to the contest, finding the net twice in the opening 22 minutes but had luck on their side.
Derry took a 0-03 to 0-01 lead before Armagh's Connaire Mackin risked a needless sending off with just 10 minutes played.
Mackin, amid a spate of pushing and shoving between the teams, appeared to flick his boot at the head of Derry's Conor Glass who lay prone on the ground.
Officials did not note the act - which appeared to be both deliberate and cynical - and play resumed.
Armagh then took the initiative, finding the net twice in 10 minutes with Ross McQuillan and Conor Turbitt both blasting the ball beyond Odhran Lynch.
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25 min: Derry 0-04 - 2-05 Armagh
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Derry looked vulnerable through the middle and could have conceded more goals ahead of the interval, trailing 0-06 to 2-08 at the break.
Sean Cavanagh blasts Armagh star's 'petulant' kick to head
Tyrone legend Cavanagh was on punditry duty for RTE when he took aim at the incident, labelling Mackin's act both 'petulant' and 'silly'.
Connaire Mackin takes a bit of a shove from Lachlan Murray and on the way past he throws a bit of a boot out.
"It is just silly, it is just petulant. He is not going to really damage (Glass) but he is being a pest there and you don't want to see that. If the wrong lineman or umpire sees that he goes.
"It is a kick-ish. It is not a full-blown kick but (it is something).
"It is never going to do massive damage but he shouldn't be doing it."
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HT: Derry 0-06 - 2-08 Armagh
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📱 Live updates https://t.co/r2CRj27ouv pic.twitter.com/VDyGQcl0V0— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 2, 2024
Armagh made the most of their good fortune, continuing their dominance in the second-half in extending their lead to 3-12 to 0-12 before Derry were reduced to 14 men.
A frustrated Ciaran McFaul, who was on a yellow, was given his marching orders when shown a black card prior to his red with the game already dead and buried for the hosts.
